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Improved Malta girls undone by two late goals

Published: 03-09-2019 19:00
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BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA 2MALTA                                  0 The Malta women’s team produced a much-improved performance in their second UEFA Women’s EURO 2021 Group B qualifier against Bosnia & Herzegovina but two late goals earned the latter a 2-0 home win at the Asim Ferhatović Hase Stadium on Tuesday.  The Maltese girls were very organised tactically and showed resilience to keep Bosnia, who were coming from a 7-1 home victory over Georgia, at bay for long stretches but a brace from captain Milena Nikolic clinched the points for the hosts. Coach Mark Gatt made some changes from the 8-0 defeat to Denmak last Friday, handing starts to Charlene Zammit and Ylenia Carabott. Bosnia enjoyed the better of the early exchanges, creating chances through Aida Hadzic and Dajana Spasojevic with the latter having a long-range shot pushed away by Malta goalkeeper Janice Xuereb. The Maltese team remained compact with Maria Farrugia mustering the first attempt but her shot was blocked by the Bosnia goalkeeper. There was another chance for Malta, Carabott going close on 34 minutes but her shot missed the target. Dorianne Theuma’s cross-shot was then stopped by Dijana Haracic. The first half ended goalless. Bosnia upped the pressure in the second half but struggled to find a way past the Malta defence before Nikolic fired them ahead with a fine shot from outside the penalty box with 18 minutes left. Two minutes later, Malta substitute Emma Xuereb made a spirited run on the flank but her final shot was weak.  Nikolic sealed Bosnia’s win with a second goal in the dying stages. BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINAD. Haracic, S. Selimovic (70 V. Sakotic), M. Hasanbegovic, M. Aleksic, D. Spasojevic, A. Hadzic (67 S. Krajsumovic), M. Nikovic, M. Medic, S. Kapetanovic (90 N. Milovic), A. Hamzic, A. Krso. MALTAJ. Xuereb, S. Farrugia, D. Theuma, Y. Carabott (59 E. Xuereb), R. Cuschieri (81 A. Sultana), M. Farrugia, S. Zammit, J. Flask, C. Zammit, B. Borg (88 M. Borg), N. Sciberras. Referee: Cansu Tyrak (Turkey).