Dominant Denmark maintain perfect run with Malta win

UEFA WOMEN’S EURO 2021 QUALIFIERS – GROUP B22/09/2020 – Centenary StadiumMALTA       0DENMARK 8 As expected, the Malta women’s national team found the going very tough in their UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 home qualifier against Denmark, ranked 16th in the world. The Danes proved too strong, securing an 8-0 victory to remain joint leaders of Group B with Italy on 21 points. Rachel Cuschieri captained Malta on her 66th appearance with defender Charlene Zammit earning her 70th cap.  Denmark made their intentions clear from the start as Sanne Troelsgaard let fly a shot from the edge of the area which was blocked by Janice Xuereb in the early stages of the game. On four minutes, Nadia Nadim connected with a Nicoline Sorensen cross but her effort sailed over the bar. The visiting team forged ahead in the sixth minute through a Stine Larsen header as the Aston Villa forward met a Pernille Harder cross. Two minutes later, Denmark doubled their lead. Sofie Svava beat her marker on the left flank before sending a measured cross inside the box and this time it was Nadim who headed home behind Xuereb. Denmark continued to put the Malta defence under pressure. They almost struck another one on the 17th minute when skipper Harder hit from close range just to see her effort sail over the bar. Malta’s first attempt was registered by Dorianne Theuma but her thumping volley went wide. Denmark were on the forefront again, this time with Nadim who had another header on goal forcing Xuereb to clear on the goal line. However, Nadim was not to be denied on the brink of half-time when she found the bottom corner from close range to make it 3-0. After the break, Denmark netted their fourth goal straight away through Sanne Troelsgaard who found the target from inside the penalty area. Chelsea player Harder got Denmark’s fifth and her first of the game when she darted towards the goal before firing past Xuereb from a tight angle. The away side continued to dominate proceedings and they managed to find a sixth through a Sofie Pedersen cross-shot that surprised Malta’s number 1. On minute 66, Denmark deployed Signe Bruun of Paris Saint-Germain and she immediately left an impact as she tapped in her team’s seventh goal of the game. Denmark’s pressure produced another goal, this time through a Troelsgaard’s shot from long range. MALTAJanice Xuereb, Emma Lipman, Stefania Farrugia, Dorianne Theuma (70 Ann-Marie Said), Rachel Cuschieri, Alishia Sultana, Maria Farrugia, Shona Zammit, Jade Flask (Nicole Sciberras 31), Charlene Zammit, Haley Bugeja (75 Ylenia Carabott).Coach: Mark Gatt. DENMARKKatrine Abel, Rikke Sevecke, Simone Sorensen, Sanne Troelsgaard, Nadia Nadim (66 Nanna Christiansen), Pernille Harder (66 Emma Snerle), Katrine Veje, Stine Larsen, Sofie Pedersen (66 Signe Bruun), Nicoline Sorensen, Sofie Svava.Coach: Lars Sondergaard.Referee: Maria Madrona (Spain).