MALTA          1
Bugeja 53 pen.

HUNGARY    1
Csiszar 46

MALTA         

G. D’Antuono; G. Zahra (46 K. Willis), E. Lipman (86 J. Dimech), M. Farrugia (90 Y. Carabott), M. Lucia, S. Zammit, C. Zammit, B. Borg, E. Xuereb, N. Sciberras, H. Bugeja.

HUNGARY

L. Brzykcy; H. Csiszar (69 E. Fenvyesi), E. Papai (69 Z. Kajan), V. Szabo (80 C. Meszaros), A. Csiki (80 V. Nagy), D. Nemeth, D. Csanyi (86 K. Sikler), H. Nemeth, L. Kovacs, D. Zeller, F. Nagy.

Referee: Maria Marotta (Italian FA).

Malta held Hungary to a 1-1 draw, battling back from a goal down in their second friendly match in preparation for the UEFA Nations League.

The Maltese side had suffered a 3-1 defeat to the same opponents on Friday but showed resilience in this encounter.

Haley Bugeja’s penalty brought Malta level after Henrietta Csiszár had given Hungary the lead early in the second half. The goal marked Bugeja’s 21st for the national team, placing her just six goals behind record scorer Dorianne Theuma.

These matches provided valuable preparation for the Nations League campaigns beginning in February, with Malta competing in League C and Hungary in League B.

Malta coach Manuela Tesse marked her 21st match in charge of the national team.
Goalkeeper Giulia D’Antuono, who debuted in Friday’s clash against Hungary, retained her place in the starting lineup.

Midfielder Gabriella Zahra, representing Birkirkara, was also included from the start, celebrating a significant milestone with her 60th cap for the national team.

Inter forward Bugeja, fresh off a goal in the previous match, featured from the start in the attack.

In the opening 15 minutes, Malta, aided by a favorable wind, dominated possession but struggled to create significant scoring opportunities.

Hungary posed a greater threat on the counter, frequently attacking down the right flank through the skillful and agile Dora Zeller. However, Malta’s resolute backline consistently thwarted their efforts.
Hungary’s Diana Csányi had a golden opportunity to break the deadlock, but her close-range effort was denied by an alert D’Antuono in one of the first-half’s standout moments.

Csányi later found herself in space outside the penalty area, but her shot sailed wide of the target.
Soon after, Hungary captain Henrietta Csiszár unleashed a powerful strike that D’Antuono did well to parry. Fanni Nagy also came close with a long-range effort that narrowly missed the target.

Hungary’s most dangerous moment came from a Csányi corner that struck the crossbar before bouncing back onto the field, narrowly missing the chance to put the visitors ahead.

At half-time, Malta coach Manuela Tesse made an attacking switch, introducing Kailey Willis for Zahra to inject more firepower.

Despite the adjustment, Hungary struck immediately after the restart as Csiszár unleashed a stunning volley, leaving D’Antuono helpless.

Just minutes later, Malta were awarded a controversial penalty after Maria Farrugia was brought down in the box, though the Hungarian defender appeared to have made a clean challenge.

From the spot, Bugeja calmly slotted home, netting her 21st international goal to become Malta’s sole second all-time leading scorer.

Hungary responded with relentless pressure.

Diana Csányi came close twice, first forcing D’Antuono into a spectacular save and then seeing another effort from the edge of the box expertly denied by the in-form goalkeeper.

Csányi continued to threaten with a long-range free kick that narrowly missed the target.

As Hungary pushed for a winner, substitute Zsanett Kaján rattled the woodwork with a free kick, but Malta held firm much to the frustration of their opponents.