TÜRKİYE 3
L. Farrugia 7 og; Topcu 28; Karabulut 88
MALTA 0
TÜRKİYE
S. Akgöz; E. Keskin, M. Kucukbirinci, E. Karatas, F. Sakar (71 I. Civelek), E. Topcu, H. Houssein (78 B. Icinozbebek), B. Seker, E. Turkoglu (71 M. Cin), S. Altunkulak (82 A. Karabulut), K. Hancar. (84 M. Ozturk)
MALTA
G. D’Antuono; E. Lipman, S. Farrugia, L. Farrugia (78 S. Saliba), Y. Carella (62 L. Ayres), M. Farrugia, J. Flask, B. Borg (90 E. Flannery), E. Xuereb (46 M. Lucia), N. Sciberras (62 S. Zammit), H. Bugeja.
Referee: Eugenia Gil Soriano (Spain FA).
Yellow cards: Xuereb, Hancar, Sciberras, Lipman.
Malta endured a difficult start to their World Cup qualifying campaign after falling to a 3-0 defeat against Türkiye in Istanbul.
It was a challenging opening assignment for Malta, particularly given their objective of consolidating their place in League B.
Türkiye capitalised on early pressure, scoring twice in the first half to take firm control of the contest and forcing the Maltese side to chase the game for long stretches.
The hosts combined technical quality with physical presence, a balance that ultimately proved decisive over the 90 minutes.
For this encounter, head coach Manuela Tesse opted for a 4-2-3-1 formation.
Giulia D’Antuono retained her place in goal, shielded by a back four consisting of captain Emma Lipman and Stephania Farrugia in central defence, flanked by Jade Flask and Emma Xuereb at full-back.
Nicole Sciberras operated as the holding midfielder, with Brenda Borg alongside her in the double pivot. Lexine Farrugia was handed a start, rejoining the senior selection following her spell as U19s captain, operating in the advanced midfield role behind the attacking trio.
Up front, Inter forward Haley Bugeja led the line, supported by Maria Farrugia – making her 60th international appearance – and Yulya Carella, who reached her 10th cap.
Türkiye, meanwhile, retained their familiar 4-2-3-1 system under head coach Necla Güngör Kıragası.
Captain Selda Akgöz started in goal, with Eda Karataş marshalling the defence.
The double pivot featured West Ham United’s Haile Houssein and Galatasaray midfielder Ebru Topçu.
In attack, Busem Şeker, Ece Türkoğlu and Selen Altunkulak supported Club Tijuana striker Kader Hançar, with Şeker and Altunkulak both having scored in Türkiye’s recent 2-0 friendly win over Albania.
Türkiye signalled their intent early. After just four minutes, Kader Hançar rose to connect with an Ebru Topçu free-kick, giving Malta an early warning of the aerial threat posed by the hosts.
The pressure quickly intensified. Altunkulak saw a close-range effort blocked into a corner by Giulia D’Antuono, but Malta were unable to clear the danger from the resulting set-piece. From the corner, Eda Karataş flicked the ball towards the back post and Lexine Farrugia inadvertently diverted it into her own net to hand Türkiye the lead.
The hosts continued to push forward with confidence. Altunkulak had another attempt that drifted wide of D’Antuono’s goal, while Topçu tried her luck from distance, her long-range strike sailing over the bar.
Türkiye’s direct and cross-heavy approach kept Malta under sustained pressure. Hançar threatened again with a header, before Altunkulak tested D’Antuono with a low drive that the goalkeeper did well to block.
Malta struggled to build sustained possession, and defensive lapses almost proved costly again when Ece Türkoğlu capitalised on a mistake by Stephania Farrugia. However, she fired over the bar from a promising position.
The second goal arrived following a turnover in midfield. Borg lost possession during a build-up phase, and Türkiye reacted swiftly. Topçu, spotting space from distance, struck decisively and beat D’Antuono to make it 2-0, underlining the hosts’ effectiveness in transition.
Malta found it difficult to threaten in the final third. Lexine Farrugia attempted a speculative effort from long range, but it lacked the power and precision to trouble the Turkish goalkeeper.
Before the interval, Fatma Şakar added to Malta’s defensive workload with a low drive that D’Antuono managed to block.
At the break, coach Tesse made her first adjustment, introducing Maya Lucia for Xuereb, who had picked up a yellow card in the opening 45 minutes.
Türkiye resumed with the same attacking intent. Hançar came close to extending the lead early in the half but failed to connect cleanly from close range.
Altunkulak also had another sight of goal, though her attempt drifted wide of Giulia D’Antuono’s post.
Just past the hour mark, Tesse sought to inject energy into Malta’s attacking phase, bringing on Shona Zammit and Leah Ayres.
The changes briefly sparked improvement. Maria Farrugia came closest for Malta, firing a shot inches wide of the upright – a rare but genuine sign of attacking threat from the visitors.
However, Türkiye continued to create better chances.
Şeker struck a well-taken volley that was kept out by D’Antuono, who remained Malta’s busiest and most reliable performer on the day.
Moments later, Altunkulak tested the Maltese goalkeeper again, but D’Antuono was equal to the effort.
Tesse made another attacking change, introducing Sara Saliba for Lexine Farrugia as Malta continued searching for a way back into the contest.
Despite the adjustments, Türkiye remained firmly in control and eventually sealed the victory when Arzu Karabulut found the net to put the result beyond doubt.
In the closing stages, there was at least a positive moment for Malta as USA-based midfielder Emma Flannery was handed her senior international debut.
