Italy women sink Malta in friendly

ITALY 5-0 MALTA
Cristiana Girelli 7, Sofia Cantore 79, Benedetta Glionna 85, Costantino og. 86, Cantore 89.

ITALY
L. Giuliani; A. Soffia, A. Bonfantini (71 A. Bonfantini), C. Girelli (61 V. Giacinti), E. Bartoli (18 M. Filangeri), C. Beccari (71 E. Goldoni), B. Glionna, E. Severini, M. Lenzini (46 L. Di Guglielmo), G. Greggi (62 E. Schatzer), J. Piga.
Coach: Andrea Soncin.

MALTA
P. Ebejer (81 R. Costantino); E. Lipman (75 V. Rapa), A. Cassar, K, Willis (88 Y. Carabott), M. Farrugia (82 M. Cardona), S. Zammit (75 V. Mifsud), C. Zammit, B. Borg, E. Xuereb, N. Sciberras, H. Bugeja (88 L. Farrugia).
Coach: Manuela Tesse.

Referee: Ioanna Allayiotou (Cyprus FA).

Four late goals broke down a resilient Malta side, allowing Italy to claim victory in an international friendly in Rome.

With a spot already secured in the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 finals, Italy used this friendly to gear up for their upcoming clash with world champions Spain next Tuesday.

Meanwhile, 87th-ranked Malta delivered a solid performance for most of the match, holding Italy to a narrow one-goal lead until the final ten minutes.

For this high-profile friendly, Malta’s coach Manuela Tesse deployed goalkeeper Patricia Ebejer between the sticks as Birkirkara’s Janice Xuereb continues to nurse a knee injury.

Captaining the team was Charlene Zammit as the Birkirkara defender made her 100th appearance for the senior national team, joined by Emma Lipman of Genoa at the heart of the backline.

Birkirkara’s Alishia Cassar and Emma Xuereb of Swieqi United were given the nod as fullbacks while Hibernians’ vice-captain Nicole Sciberras, Shona Zammit – Swieqi’s skipper and Brenda Borg, captain of Mġarr, formed the midfield trio.

For Zammit, this was her 80th appearance for the Maltese selection.

Maria Farrugia, four goals with Sheffield United this season, Inter’s Haley Bugeja and Kailey Willis of Venezia started upfront.

Italy, on their part, had a strong line-up on the field Elisa Bartoli, Giada Greggi and Benedetta Glionna – all Serie A winners with Roma last season.

The hosts applied early pressure on Malta when Juventus forward Chiara Beccari unleashed a volley, only for Patricia Ebejer to pull off a crucial save.

The Azzurre then took the lead through Cristiana Girelli, who scored her 55th international goal with a header past Ebejer, despite suspicions of an offside position.

Malta responded through Emma Lipman, whose shot from a corner flew just over the bar.

After 18 minutes, Italy’s Bartoli had to be substituted due to a hamstring injury, with Fiorentina’s Maria Filangeri taking her place.

Italy almost doubled their lead when Roma’s Benedetta Glionna broke through but failed to beat Ebejer from close range. She later tried her luck from outside the box but couldn’t find the target.

Agnese Bonfantini then saw her header narrowly miss the mark as Italy pressed for a second goal.

Shortly after, Giada Greggi tested Ebejer from close range following a miscue by Malta’s Brenda Borg just outside the area.

After the break, Malta registered their first real chance through Farrugia, but Giuliani managed to block the effort.

Italy’s Bonfantini attempted to double the lead with a volley from outside the penalty area, though it sailed off target. Emma Severini then tried her luck with a long-range free-kick, but Mġarr goalkeeper Ebejer denied her attempt.

Midway through the second half, Eva Schatzer made her national team debut for Italy. The Juventus midfielder, who came up through the Bianconere ranks, had played alongside Italy’s Beccari and Malta’s Sciberras at the U-19 level.

Ebejer continued her solid performance, blocking Glionna’s free-kick attempt to keep Malta in the game.

Italy eventually found their second goal when Sofia Cantore escaped her marker and slotted home from close range.

In the final moments, Malta coach Tesse introduced debutants Raisa Costantino and Mariah Cardona. Costantino was quickly called into action, making a save on Glionna’s shot. However, moments later, Glionna found the net, scoring her first goal for Italy.

Italy wrapped up the match with two additional late goals: a Costantino own goal and another strike from Cantore from outside the box.