Malta U-19’s girls lose to Belgium in second Euro qualifer

Belgium 7-0 Malta

A second defeat for the Malta U-19’s women’s national team as they lost 7-0 to Belgium in their second 2022/2023 UEFA Women’s U-19’s European Championship qualifications.

The game, played at the Municipal Sergio Conceicao of Coimbra, saw Belgium open a three-goal lead in the first 45 minutes to put enough daylight between them and Malta ahead of the second half.

Belgium, hosts of next year’s finals, have already qualified to the tournament and are participating only to prepare themselves as much as possible for the European Championships.

They were at the back of a 1-0 defeat against Portugal in their tournament opener.

Malta, led by coach Frank Schembri, had a few changes in their starting formation from their loss to Norway in their opening game of this campaign.

Raisa Costantino started between the sticks and Jeanelle Falzon started in the backline as captain Alexandra Gatt moved as a midfielder.

Forward Lore Jacobs proved Belgium’s hero as she grabbed a first-half hat-trick to propel her country to the first win in this group.

She opened the score after five minutes before netting two more goals on the 39^th minute and in stoppage time.

After the change of ends, Marine Rosala scored Belgium’s fourth on the 50^th minute. Seven minutes later, Ines Van Gansbeke added a fifth for her nation.

Belgium scored a sixth Alixe Boostels on the 75^th minute before Jacobs added a seventh on minute 81.  

Malta will wrap up its qualifying campaign in a match against the hosts of this mini-group, Portugal, scheduled for Tuesday.

BELGIUM
J. Covent; N. Francois, C. Llievens, I. Van Gansbeke (65 N. Elyn), L. Vanhoudt (46 E. Cattoor), M. Detruyer (79 A. Bergen), V. Ampoorter (46 M. Buysse), Z. Taillieu, M. Rosala, L. Jacobs, R. Boutiebi (65 A. Bosteels).

Coach: Xavier Donnay.

MALTA
R. Costantino; M. Ionadi, J. Falzon, T. Falzon, G. Mifsud, I. Farrugia (64 F. Al Girbi), A. Gatt, M. La Rosa (17 I. Camilleri), Y. Carella (64 S. Blihi), I. Mifsud, S. Vella Barberi (87 G. Antonelli).

Coach: Frank Schembri.  

Referee: Lizzy Van Der Helm (Netherlands FA).

Yellow card: Izabella Camilleri.

Scorers: Jacobs 5’, 39’, 45’, 81’; Rosala 50’; Van Gansbeke 57’; Boostels 75’.