MALTA 0
BELARUS 1
Alkhovik 40
MALTA
G. D’Antuono (46 M. Cachia); O. Grange (72 T. Falzon), S. Farrugia (85 L. Cefai), R. Cuschieri (72 L. Ayres), K. Willis (62 Y. Carella), M. Farrugia (85 A. Grech), E. Xuereb (46 A. Gatt), Y. Carella, N. Sciberras, H. Bugeja, R. Bajada.
BELARUS
K. Miklashevich; A. Linnik, A. Shlapakova (46 N. Shuppo), H. Siniauskaya (65 L. Tsikhamirava), Z. Kaputsina (90 V. Kazakevich), H. Kaziupa, A. Maher (90 V. Belaya), Y. Sliasarchyk (46 V. Valiuk), K. Alkhovik (65 A. Kavaliova), M. Surautsava (46 D. Harshkova), A. Sitnikava.
Referee: Joanna Vassallo.
Yellow cards: Shlapakova, Sciberras, Kapustsina.
For the second consecutive match, the Malta women’s national team fell to another defeat against Belarus in an international friendly.
This fixture was part of a series of preparatory friendlies ahead of Malta’s return to League B in the upcoming UEFA Women’s Nations League.
Compared to the first match, coach Manuela Tesse implemented several changes to her starting lineup, as she had indicated post-match on Saturday.
Captain Emma Lipman started on the bench, with Stephania Farrugia and Oceane Grange forming the central defensive pairing. Emma Xuereb and Rebecca Bajada, who made her 20th appearance for the national team, occupied the full-back positions.
In midfield, Nicole Sciberras and Rachel Cuschieri retained their places, joined by Yulya Carella of Mġarr United.
Up front, Tesse kept faith with her usual attacking trio of Haley Bugeja, Kailey Willis, and Maria Farrugia.
Malta looked much improved compared to Saturday’s outing, particularly from a tactical standpoint.
The team was more compact and coordinated in pressing, which restricted Belarus’ ability to play through the middle or create clear chances.
However, Malta still struggled to produce a consistent attacking threat and have now gone three matches without scoring, dating back to their Nations League finale against Andorra.
Belarus threatened early on when Anastasiya Shlapakova tried her luck from distance, but her effort was comfortably dealt with by Giulia D’Antuono.
Malta’s pressing system continued to frustrate the visitors, and on the half-hour mark, it nearly paid off.
Carella intercepted a loose ball and quickly switched play to Bugeja, who set up Willis, only for the Brescia forward’s close-range strike to be blocked by the Belarusian goalkeeper.
At the other end, Karyna Alkhovik forced a save from D’Antuono with a shot from the edge of the box.
Moments later, however, the Fenerbahçe winger capitalised on a well-executed transition to lift the ball over D’Antuono and put Belarus ahead.
Alkhovik continued to threaten, drawing another save from the Maltese goalkeeper before the interval.
Just before half-time, Bugeja tested the Belarus goalkeeper with a low drive, but her attempt was parried away.
At the break, Malta introduced Maya Cachia in goal and Alexandra Gatt, of Hull City Ladies, in place of Xuereb. Belarus also made several substitutions.
The visitors nearly doubled their advantage through Alkhovik, who missed a clear opportunity, while at the other end, Cuschieri came close to levelling with a well-struck effort that was tipped behind for a corner.
Past the hour mark, Shona Zammit made her 90th appearance for Malta, with Carella shifting to the wing as Willis was substituted – Bugeja now operating as the central striker.
Further changes followed, including a senior debut for Tammy Falzon of Swieqi United, as Tesse looked to give valuable minutes to her younger players.
Despite Malta increasing the pressure, Belarus nearly found a second through Anastasiya Kavaliova, whose low effort went just wide.
In the closing stages, Leanne Cefai of Mġarr United also made her senior debut.
Four minutes from time, Kavaliova twice came close to sealing the win. First denied by Cachia, then heading narrowly off target from close range.
Malta’s final chance came through Bugeja, whose trademark curling effort from the edge of the box sailed just over the crossbar, leaving Tesse’s side unable to rescue a draw.
The national team will now discover its League B opponents in November 4’s draw before facing Croatia in a double-header international friendlies between November and December.
