Hat-trick hero Krajsumovic leads Bosnia to narrow win
• Late goals not enough to save the day for Malta girls
Malta Bosnia H. 2 3
Malta: J. Xuereb, E. Lipman, S. Farrugia, D. Theuma, R. Cuschieri (E. Xuereb 65), M. Farrugia (M. Borg 75), S. Zammit (N. Sciberras 57), J. Flask, C. Zammit, B. Borg, H. Bugeja.
Bosnia H.: D. Haracic, N. Dijakovic (V. Sakotic 88), S. Selimovic (N. Vujadin 75), M. Hasanbegovic, M. Aleksic, D. Spasojevic, D. Velagic, M. Nikolic, S. Kapetanovic (M. Jelcic 90), S. Krajsumovic, A. Krso.
Referee: N. Muratdagi (Turkey).
Asst refs: BN Yilmaz, S. Aktan.
4th official: C. Tiryaki.
Scorers: S. Krajsumovic 10, 26, 54, E. Xuereb 79, B. Borg 90
Yellow cards: S. Zammit 43, M. Aleksic 44, E. Xuereb 65, D.
Theuma 86,
Sofija Krajsumovic scored a great hat-trick to lead Bosnia & Herzegovina to a comfortable 3-2 win over Malta.
She struck twice in the first half and added the third soon after the interval. Two late goals from substitute Emma Xuereb and Brenda Borg provided consolation for the Maltese girls, but they were not enough to save the day.
The defeat and Israel’s 4-0 win over Georgia means that Malta have dropped one place to 5th, remaining on 4 points, the same as Israel who, however, have a better goal difference.
The victory helped Bosnia to keep their qualifying chances alive. They remain on 15 points, the same as Denmark who, however, have played two matches fewer than the Bosnians.
Italy lead the Group standings on maximum points – 18.
In the away match in Bosnia last September, the Maltese girls suffered a 2-0 defeat.
Before the match, MFA president Bjorn Vassallo presented a cap and a commemorative jersey with the number 100, having played that number of matches for the Malta national women’s team.
In the first half, Bosnia were definitely the better team, especially in the first 30 minutes when they scored their two goals which gave them a good cushion.
It was a pleasure watching these Bosnian girls playing the ball along the surface giving the Maltese defence a tough time.
Malta took a long time to settle down, but the local girls also had their good moments especially in a three-minute spell after the Bosnian second goal, during which they went close to narrowing the gap.
It was more or less the same story in the second half with Bosnia well in control, but with Malta also creating at least two good chances which were missed.
However, they earned a just reward as they crawled back with two goals. Unfortunately these were not enough to save a point.
Bosnia took the initiative from the start and in the 6th minute, they missed a good chance when from a Selimovic cross, Krajsumovic headed over the bar when well placed.
Krajsumovic was luckier in the 10th minute when she received a long ball and beat goalie Xuereb with a low angled shot.
In the 23rd minute, Spasojevic forced her way into the Malta area, but Lipman came to Malta’s rescue by deviating her weak effort into Xuereb’s grateful hands.
The score became 2-0 in the 26th minute when Krajsumovic scored her second goal with a neat header following a perfect cross from the right flank from Velagic.
Malta’s first effort arrived two minutes later when Bugeja advanced into the Bosnia area but her effort was blocked by goalie Haracic. The latter was also in action seconds later turning to corner a good effort from Maria Farrugia.
And in the 31st minute, as Malta insisted, Theuma tested the Bosnian goalie with a fine rising shot, but Haracic saved confidently.
Bosnia almost added a third goal in the 37th minute when a Kapetanovic good effort just missed the target.
Bugeja was once again close to scoring for Malta in the 42nd minute when following a good run on the right flank, she beat a defender only to see her shot being saved on deck by the goalie.
At the start of the second half, Aleksic lifted her shot from the edge of the area over the bar.
Krajsumovic confirmed her status as hero of her side as she obtained her hat-trick on 54 minutes beating Xuereb with a good lob after receiving a pass from midfield.
On 56 minutes, Bugeja again advanced into the Bosnian area, but hesitated before shooting weakly into the onrushing goalie Haracic.
On 64 minutes, Malta was unlucky not to score when Bugeja crossed low in front of goal and Borg was a second too late to flick the ball into an untenanted net.
Malta scored a consolation goal on the 79th minute. It was Bugeja who was involved in another good run down the left flank before crossing perfectly for substitute Emma Xuereb to flick home from close in.
In the 83rd minute, goalie Xuereb denied Krajsumovic a 4th goal as she saved her point-blank shot. At the other end, Malta protested in vain for a penalty when Bugeja appeared to have been floored in the area by a Bosnian defender.
In added time, Malta again went close through Borg who saw her shot excellently saved by Haracic.
The same Borg then scored a second goal for Malta soon after having her first attempt blocked partially by the goalie.