Malta beats Montenegro with Jade Flask header
Malta
1
Montenegro
0
A Jade Flask header in the first half and some stunning saves late in the game by Patricia Ebejer gave Malta a slender victory over Montenegro yesterday at Ta’ Qali. This was the second friendly between the two sides in the space of four days, with Mark Gatt’s girls taking sweet revenge for thursday’s 2-1 defeat.
Mark Gatt made four changes from Thursday’s initial line up, with Patricia Ebejer, Doianne Theuma, Jade Flask and Emma Xuereb included in the first eleven. Malta starlet Hayley Bugeja was not fit to play and was on the stands following the match. The local girls had a good start controlling the proceedings but on 20 minutes the locals had a lucky escape when Staphania Farrugia cleared off the goal line a Bulatovic effort.
On 32 minutes Malta scored what proved to be the winner when off a Dorianne Theuma corner, Jade Flask headed home in style.
In the second half Montenegro increased their tempo in search of the equaliser. Malta controlled well with Shona Zammit playing a blinder. However in the final quarter of the match the maltese girls struggled with the visitors all over the place. Montenegro had four clear cut chances in front of goal, but Patricia Ebejer made the impossible and saved everything directed at goal.
In the last ten minutes Malta’s defence went in disarray when Charlene Zammit limped off injured, but Ebejer was yesterday simply unbeatable and the locals grabbed the victory.
Malta: Patricia Ebejer, Emma Louise Lipman, Stephania Farrugia, Dorianne Theuma (Veronique Mifsud 72’), Rachel Cuschieri, Maria Farrugia (Kayleigh Chetcuti 72’), Shona Zammit, Jade Flask, Charlene Zammit (Gabriella Zahra 83’), Emma Xuereb (Rodianne Zerafa 56’)(Simone Buttigieg 83’), Nicole Sciberras.
Montenegro: Anastasija Krstovic, Milica Radunovic, Aleksandra popovic, Maja Saranovic, Sladjana Bulatovic, Nadja Stanovic, Jelen Karlicic, Armisa Kuc, Helena Bozic, Darija Djukic, Radosava Kocanovic.
Referee: Darryl Agius