Manuela Tesse focused on progress as Malta face uphill battle against Northern Ireland in women’s World Cup qualifiers

Malta women’s national team coach Manuela Tesse had called for greater compactness ahead of Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier against Northern Ireland, but what unfolded in the opening stages told a very different story.

Now, she hopes that this Saturday’s direct encounter against the same side will see a better performance from her Malta team as they take on each other at the Centenary Stadium (kick-off: 7pm).

In Tuesday’s match, the Maltese selection struggled early on, conceding twice within the first 17 minutes, effectively putting the game beyond reach and handing control to their opponents.

This third consecutive defeat leaves Malta without a point in the group and with a negative goal difference, making their bid to remain in League B increasingly challenging.

The gap in quality within the group is becoming evident, although Tesse remains optimistic about her team’s development.

“We need to look at the match in two distinct halves, as they were very different in terms of performance. In the first half, our rhythm was not at the level we expected. Northern Ireland is a very strong and physical team,” Tesse told the Times of Malta.

“The playing conditions also played a significant role. The pitch was in poor condition and the rainy weather made it even more challenging, especially as many of our players are not used to performing in such conditions.”

Despite the difficult start, Malta showed clear improvement after the break. The team was looking more compact, better organised, and more consistent in possession, although it was Northern Ireland who found the net on two more occasions.

Tesse also pushed back against suggestions that Malta are struggling to create dangerous opportunities — a concern that has surfaced repeatedly in recent matches with her side scoring in two matches in the last eight – in the 3-2 win over Croatia and the 1-4 defeat to Switzerland.

“I do not fully agree with this assessment. If we look at the statistics, the game was much more balanced than is being suggested,” she said.

Malta registered six attempts at goal, with two on target, compared to Northern Ireland’s seven, four of which tested the goalkeeper. The team also earned 17 free-kicks and struck the woodwork twice, through key players Haley Bugeja and Maria Farriga – indicators, according to Tesse, that they were capable of creating a genuine threat.

“Taking all this into account, it would not be accurate to say that we produced very little in terms of dangerous actions.”

Still, the Italian coach acknowledged where the difference ultimately lay.

“Northern Ireland were physically stronger, managed the rhythm of the game better, and showed greater experience in key moments.”

A key concern remains defensive solidity. Northern Ireland converted all four of their shots on target – a statistic that underlines Malta’s struggles at the back.

Keri Halliday, deployed on the left wing, proved a constant threat to Malta and delivered a standout performance that belied her 21 years of age.

She finished the match with two goals and an assist, while her direct running and dribbling ability highlighted the promise of Northern Ireland’s emerging generation.

The 21-year-old had already built an impressive record at Linfield, scoring 53 goals in 85 appearances, before earning a move to Scotland. She is currently on loan at Motherwell from Hearts.

McArdle was also impressed by Halliday’s performance, telling the BBC that “she lit the place up tonight which was exciting to see”.

Meanwhile, Tesse also pointed to the absence of an experienced goalkeeper, with Malta currently relying on three 22-year-olds who are still gaining experience at international level.

Injuries have further complicated matters. Key players such as defenders Rebecca Bajada and Stephania Farrugia, and forward Lexine Farrugia have suffered ACL injuries, while Sara Saliba of Swieqi United has also been unavailable.

“These setbacks, however, have opened the door for emerging players like Alexandra Gatt (York City) and Leah Ayres (Hibernians) to step up and gain valuable experience,” Tesse underlined.