MALTA          0

BELARUS      2
A. Shlapakova 54
N. Shuppo 90

MALTA
G. D’Antuono; O. Grange, E. Lipman, S. Farrugia, R. Cuschieri, K. Willis (89 L. Ayres), M. Farrugia, M. Lucia (58 E. Xuereb), S. Zammit (84 Y. Carella), N. Sciberras (84 G. Zahra), H. Bugeja.

BELARUS
M. Svidunovich; A. Linnik, A. Shlapakova (81 N. Shluppo), H. Siniauskaya (66 V. Valiuk), Z. Kapustsina, H. Kaziupa, A. Maher (90 D. Harshkova), Y. Sliasarchyk, K. Alhovik (66 A. Kavaliova), M. Surautsava (81 A. Charlionak), A. Sitnikava.

Referee: Sara Telek (Austria FA).

Yellow cards: Linnik, D’ Antuono.

The Malta women’s national team opened their October international window with a 2-0 defeat to Belarus in the first of two friendlies between the sides.

Ranked 30 places above Malta in the FIFA standings, Belarus entered the match as favourites. Despite that, Malta, preparing for their second League B campaign, looked more threatening during the first half.

However, after the break, Belarus took control of possession and began to dictate the tempo. Although Malta showed resilience after conceding, they struggled to truly test the Belarus goalkeeper.

For this match, Malta wore the Malta FA’s special 125th anniversary kit, previously donned by the men’s national team in their 0-0 draw against Lithuania during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in June.

The match also marked the final appearance of veteran midfielder Gabriella Zahra, who earned her 61st cap for Malta.

The Birkirkara player, who debuted in 2009 against Latvia, came off the bench late in the match and was handed the captain’s armband for her farewell minutes.

Coach Manuela Tesse maintained her usual setup, with minor changes that included goalkeeper Giulia D’Antuono replacing the unavailable Janice Xuereb. Genoa Women’s Rachel Cuschieri,

Malta’s second all-time appearance holder with 108 caps, started in the midfield, Shona Zammit was given the nod as she is one game shy from her 90th match and forwards Haley Bugeja, Maria Farrugia, and Kailey Willis formed the attacking line.

The opening stages were cagey, with little action in either box. On 17 minutes, Cuschieri’s free kick was comfortably saved by the Belarus goalkeeper. Belarus responded through Karina Alkhovik of Fenerbahçe, who frequently cut inside from the left but fired well off target.

Five minutes before the interval, Farrugia tried one of her trademark long-range efforts, forcing an easy save from Maryia Svidunovich. Moments later, Bugeja’s curling attempt sailed just over the bar as Malta’s attacking momentum built through the duo, with Willis contributing by holding up play and earning multiple fouls.

Just before half-time, D’Antuono denied Anastasiya Shlapakova from close range to keep the game goalless at the break.

After half-time, Belarus introduced a small tactical shift – pushing their left winger closer to the forward line in a 4-2-2-2 setup. This created space for full-back Zaryna Kaputsina, whose overlapping run and cross led to the opening goal. D’Antuono failed to deal cleanly with the delivery, allowing Shlapakova to score into an empty net.

Tesse reacted by bringing on Emma Xuereb for Maya Lucia, with Xuereb slotting into the left-back role. Belarus, meanwhile, introduced striker Viktoryia Valiuk of Minsk FK, the league’s top scorer with 31 goals in 26 appearances.

In the final stages, Yulya Carella of Mġarr United was brought on to add attacking support, alongside Zahra’s emotional entrance. The veteran almost capped her farewell with a goal, seeing her towering header from a corner saved by the goalkeeper.

In stoppage time, Belarus were awarded a penalty after Stephania Farrugia was adjudged to have tripped Anastasiya Kavaliova. Nastasia Shuppo’s initial effort was saved by D’Antuono, but after the referee ruled encroachment, the spot kick was retaken – twice. On the third attempt, Shuppo finally converted, sealing a 2-0 win for Belarus.