Dominant Malta score convincing win against Georgia
Malta Georgia 2 1
Malta: J. Xuereb, AM Said, E. Lipman, S. Farrugia, D. Theuma, R. Cuschieri, M. Farrugia (M. Borg), J. Flask, C. Zammit, B. Borg, H. Bugeja (E. Xuereb).
Georgia: T. Sukhashvili, N. Pasikashvili, T. Matveeva, L. Chichinadze, K. Tchkonia, T. Tatuashvili, T. Kvelidze (G. Kadagishvili), N. Suditze, T. Bakradze (A. Cheminava), T. Todadze, E. Raukh.
Referee: A. Saribekyan (Armenia)
Asst refs: L. Grigoryan, K. Grigoryan
4th official: S. Torosyan.
Scorers: R. Cuschieri 18, H. Bugeja 47, K. Tchkonia 78,
Yellow card: T. Matveeva,
Malta obtained its first win in Group B of the qualifying round yesterday evening when they beat their Georgian counterparts 2-1 after leading 1-0 at the interval.
Goals by Rachel Cuschieri in the first half and another by Haley Bugeja in the second made it a richly deserved win for the local girls, although a defensive lapse 12 minutes from the end enabled Khatia Tchkonia to score a consolation goal for Georgia. It was Georgia’s only shot at goal in the match.
The match was completely dominated by the Maltese girls. They had total control of midfield and launched several attacks.
In fact, they created so much that the 2-1 scoreline does not clearly reflect how dominant and convincing the Maltese were, but it was a pity that they contrived to miss a good number of clear scoring chances.
Stefania Farrugia and Haley Bugeja were the inspiration of the side, with the latter excelling on the left flank with her splendid runs from one of which Rachel Cuschieri scored the only goal of the first half. Bugeja then went on to score Malta’s second goal after another fine run from midfield.
But even Dorianne Theuma and Rachel Cuschieri proved dominant in midfield which they held confidently in their hands throughout the whole match.
In the second half, it was more or less the same story as the first, with the Malta girls taking a 2-0 lead soon after the start and then dominating for long stretches, giving their opponents no chance to have a pot at the Malta goal. In fact, goalie Janice Xuereb must have had one of her easiest matches before she was unexpectedly beaten 12 minutes from the end as Georgia scored their goal against the run of play.
Malta had a chance to forge ahead on 4 minutes when from a Dorianne Theuma corner, Stefania Farrugia’s header went just wide of the right upright.
The Maltese girls again were close to taking the lead on 10 minutes. A Dorianne Theuma low cross saw Rachel Cuschieri anticipating the Georgian goalie, but her flick went inches wide of the target.
Malta richly deserved to take the lead on the 18th minute. Haley Bugeja went past her direct opponent on the left flank and crossed low for the unmarked Rachel Cuschieri to hit home a fine first timer, the ball hitting the underpart of the crossbar before finishing in the net.
In the 25th minute, Malta should have been 2-0 ahead when a Stefania Farrugia cross went to the unmarked Dorianne Theuma, but she placed her header wide of goal.
Malta’s domination continued and in the 33rd minute, after a fine run by Bugeja, it was Ann Marie Said who hit her effort from the edge of the area wide of goal.
On the 45th minute, Malta missed another good chance to increase their lead when a fine run by Maria Farrugia ended with Haley Bugeja firing her shot just wide.
Malta went 2-0 in front on the 47th minute, when Haley Farrugia ran upfield unhindered to beat the helpless goalie Sukhashvili.
Six minutes later, another fine run by Haley ended with her pass to Maria Farrugia being anticipated n extremis by a Georgian defender.
In the 57th minute, from a Bugeja cross, it was Emma Lipman who headed just wide. Soon after, Maria Farrugia saw her angled shot being turned to corner by the Georgian goalie in the 77th minute.
It was against the run of play that Georgia scored their consolation goal a minute later. Goalie Janice Xuereb cleared the ball badly. It went to Khatia Tchkonia who dribbled round the goalie and hit home into an empty net.
Malta were close to re-establishing the two-goal lead in the 79th minute, but a Haley Bugeja shot was tipped onto the upright by the Georgian goalie with the ball being cleared to corner by a defender.
Till the end, the Maltese girls maintain their calm to emerge clear winners, landing themselves on the 4-point mark.
Malta’s next commitment is next Tuesday against Bosnia Herzegovina, also at the Centenary Stadium.