MALTA J. Xuereb; E. Xuereb, C. Zammit, O. Grange, M. Lucia, S. Zammit, R. Cuschieri, N. Sciberras, H. Bugeja, K. Willis (80 A. Cassar), M. Farrugia.
GEORGIA T. Gabunia; S. Gasviani, L. Mtskerashvili, N. Chkartishvili, N. Pasikashvili (80 M. Bebia), G. Kadagshvili, T. Matveeva, T. Bakradze, N. Bukhrikidze (46 I. Khaburdzania), M. Kalandadze.
Referee: Cansu Tryak (Turkey FA).
Yellow cards: Mtskerashvili, Bakradze.
Malta survived a late scare to edge past Georgia once again and keep their promotion hopes to League B in the UEFA Women’s Nations League very much alive.
Much like last Friday’s away victory, the Maltese side showcased superior quality in possession but failed to fully capitalise on it, allowing Georgia to stay in the contest and threatening to deny the home side a crucial victory
Still, this hard-fought win propels Malta into their final two fixtures – against Cyprus and Andorra – with renewed belief, knowing that their fate in this League C group remains firmly in their hands.
Manuela Tesse made one change to the winning formation from last Friday, bringing back veteran defender Charlene Zammit for captain Emma Lipman, who was serving a one-game ban.
Malta’s lineup included midfielder Nicole Sciberras (Hibernians), celebrating her 50th cap, and Venezia forward Kailey Willis, making her 20th appearance for the senior team.
On the other side, Georgia fielded offensive player Teona Bakradze, who had challenged Malta’s defense in Tbilisi, scoring one of their goals.
Georgia opted for a 3-5-2 formation to cover the width against Malta’s offensive 4-3-3.
The match’s opening quarter saw little action as both teams struggled to settle in their play.
Malta controlled the tempo but struggled with slow movement and lacked dynamism across the field, which Georgia exploited to deny clear chances.
The pattern continued, with Malta occasionally increasing their intensity but lacking incisiveness in attack.
Georgia threatened first with Nino Bukirikidze’s long-range effort testing Malta’s goalkeeper Janice Xuereb.
However, it was Malta who broke the deadlock through captain Rachel Cuschieri, who scored from outside the box.
It was sweet redemption for Cuschieri who had hit the woodwork on Friday, marking her 15th goal for Malta.
In a bizarre incident before half-time, Georgia celebrated prematurely after an inswinging corner seemed to cross the line before Xuereb cleared it, but the referee awarded a foul to Malta, instead of a goal much to the relief of the home side.
After the break, Georgia introduced forward Irina Khaburdzania in a bid to inject more firepower into their attack as they chased an equaliser.
Malta, however, looked sharper after the restart.
A clever backheel flick by Kailey Willis forced Georgia’s goalkeeper into her first save of the night, before Maria Farrugia tried her luck with a powerful effort that sailed just over the bar.
Despite Malta’s growing threat, Georgia remained in the contest.
Tatiana Matveeva squandered a golden opportunity, sending her close-range header wide – a clear reminder that Malta still looked vulnerable in aerial situations.
Khaburdzania continued to trouble Malta’s backline, drawing a save from Janice Xuereb as Georgia pressed higher up the pitch in search of a breakthrough.
But just before the hour mark, Malta were awarded a penalty after Haley Bugeja was brought down in the box.
The Inter forward picked herself up and converted from the spot – her 23rd goal for Malta, now just four shy of equaling Dorianne Theuma’s all-time national team scoring record.
Malta pushed forward to extend their lead, but Georgia’s goalkeeper was in inspired form. She pulled off a brilliant save to deny Cuschieri from long range, diving at full stretch to keep her side in the game.
Moments later, she reacted quickly to stop Shona Zammit’s close-range effort inside the six-yard box, showcasing sharp reflexes to prevent a third Malta goal.
Zammit had another chance shortly after, getting at the end of a low cross from Maria Farrugia inside the area, but couldn’t quite direct her effort on target as the opportunity went begging.
Bugeja came close to doubling her tally and putting the game to bed when she cut inside and attempted a curling strike, only to be denied by another fine save from the Georgia goalkeeper, who stood out with a string of key interventions.
Ten minutes from time, Janice Xuereb came to Malta’s rescue with a brilliant leg save, reacting instinctively to deny Georgia a crucial opportunity to claw their way back into the match.
Georgia’s biggest chance came in the 82nd minute when Tatiana Matveeva, unmarked at point-blank range, smashed her effort against the woodwork – an incredible miss that summed up Georgia’s frustration as Malta began to look shaky in the closing stages.
Georgia made amends for that shocking miss just minutes later, cutting the deficit to one when Mariam Kalandadze capitalised on a free-kick, finding the net to throw the contest wide open in the dying stages.
However, the Maltese players managed to withstand Georgia’s late pressure to hold on to a precious win.
