Malta coach Tesse disappointed by team’s second-half decline

For the second match in a row, a last-gasp goal condemned Malta women to another defeat in the Euro 2025 qualifiers.

In both matches against Bosnia-Herzegovina, Manuela Tesse’s team came out of the blocks strongly before fading away in the match, especially in the second half.

After the first match, a home defeat at the Centenary Stadium, Tesse had lamented that the physical difference makes it difficult for Malta to catch up with Bosnia in both ground and aerial duels.

Similarly to that game, Malta’s tempo declined after the break and Bosnia started to take advantage to be more dangerous in the final third.

Eventually, Bosnia’s three goals in two games came through captain Milena Nikolic whose imperious height caused too many difficulties to the Maltese backline.

After Tuesday’s defeat, in Zenica, Tesse admitted to the Times of Malta that Bosnia’s strength made the difference in this match.

The Italian tactician did heap praise on the team’s first-half performance though, where the Maltese players put on a good display of technical level, managing to produce a well-engineered goal from inside the penalty box as well.

Maria Farrugia scored a goal on a brilliant suggestion by Brenda Borg, her eighth with Malta, and the nation’s first in this historic League B campaign.

“However, in the second half, we were not able to play our game,” Tesse pointed out.

Malta’s struggles up front meant more pressure at the back as Bosnia started to inch their way up the field, shifting their players around to try and capitalise on their positive patches throughout the game.

Tesse tried to shake things up with the inclusions of Kailey Willis, Nicole Sciberras and Maya Lucia but Malta never gave the impression of threatening Bosnia.

The stoppage-time goal for Bosnia now leaves Malta at the bottom of its League B group, with the Bosnian selection moving to six points after these two victories.

Coach Tesse admitted that it is now very difficult to stay in Europe’s second tier with the remaining games being against Euro 2021 participants Northern Ireland and World Cup 2023 participants Portugal.

The top three teams in this group advance to the playoffs for a shot at the Euros which will be held in Switzerland, next year.

However, the worst third-placed team will still drop into League C together with the nations placing last in their League B groups.