Bugeja strike gives Malta victory over Luxembourg

Haley Bugeja scored the only goal as Malta defeated Luxembourg 1–0 in a women’s international friendly at the Centenary Stadium on Friday night.

The forward struck in the 58th minute to secure victory for Manuela Tesse’s side in a match which saw both teams have penalties saved.

Luxembourg had an opportunity to take the lead after 20 minutes when Kimberley Dos Santos was played through and brought down by Malta goalkeeper Maya Cachia as she came off her line.

Marta Estevez Garcia stepped up to take the penalty, but Cachia made amends with an excellent diving save to keep the scores level.

Malta threatened in the 37th minute when Rachel Cuschieri’s cross found Bugeja, who stretched to direct the ball towards goal. Lucie Schlime reacted well to turn the effort behind for a corner.

From the resulting set-piece, the ball eventually fell to Cuschieri outside the penalty area, but her powerful volley went wide.

The teams remained level at half-time, before Malta began the second half positively. Cuschieri went close in the 51st minute with a curling free-kick which narrowly cleared the crossbar.

The breakthrough arrived seven minutes later. Half-time substitute Brenda Borg picked out Bugeja with a fine pass, allowing the striker to race through and finish past Schlime.

Malta had a chance to double their advantage in the 71st minute. Schlime parried a driven effort from Yulya Carella, and Borg was fouled inside the penalty area as she pursued the rebound.

Bugeja took the spot-kick, but Schlime produced a fine diving save to deny her a second goal.

The hosts continued to press, although the Luxembourg goalkeeper kept the deficit to one. Malta held their lead to complete a positive evening for Tesse’s team.

Match details

Women’s international friendly
Date: 9 October 2026
Venue: Centenary Stadium, Ta’ Qali
Result: Malta 1 Luxembourg 0
Half-time: 0–0
Scorer: Haley Bugeja 58’
Penalties saved: Marta Estevez Garcia’s penalty saved by Maya Cachia 20’; Haley Bugeja’s penalty saved by Lucie Schlime 71’.

Malta: Maya Cachia (Giulia D’Antuono 46’), Alexandra Gatt, Georgiana Mifsud (Valentina Rapa 78’), Jessica Lee Dimech (Leanne Cefai 54’), Yulya Carella (Nyorah Celeste 73’), Rachel Cuschieri (captain), Kailey Willis (Sara Saliba 46’), Maria Farrugia, Shona Zammit (Fiona Buttigieg 73’), Nicole Sciberras (Brenda Borg 46’), Haley Bugeja (Jana Barbara 78’).
Coach: Manuela Tesse.

Luxembourg: Lucie Schlime, Emma Kremer, Marta Estevez Garcia, Joana Lourenco (Vera Villegas 73’), Catarina Lavinas, Laura Miller (captain), Ana Abreu Barbosa (Andreia Faria 73’), Leila Schmit, Hannah Dietrich, Anna Miny, Kimberley Dos Santos.
Coach: Daniel Zirbes.

Referee: Charlotte Elizabeth Carpenter.
Yellow cards: Anna Miny (Luxembourg), Alexandra Gatt (Malta).