MALTA          0

CROATIA      3
Joscak 42; Rudelic 50; Kurkutovic 75

MALTA
M. Cachia (73 P. Ebejer); E. Lipman (73 M. Lucia), S. Farrugia, O. Grange, S. Saliba, R. Cuschieri (73 B. Borg), M. Farrugia, S. Zammit (80 L. Ayres), Y. Carella (46 K. Willis), N. Sciberras, R. Bajada (85 G. Mifsud).

CROATIA
D. Bacic (85 A. Ristovski); L. Orkic (85 P. Mikulica), A. Jelencic (E. Lustina), L. Vunic (80 K. Nevrkla), T. Vracevic (80 L. Vlastelica), M. Joscak (76 S. Stambolic), I. Rudelic, H. Spajic (85 I. Slipcevic), J. Canjevac (85 I. Lojna), K. Kurkutovic, B. Zivkovic.

Referee: Rapjan Xhyra.

Yellow cards: Zammit, Joscak. 

Malta wrapped up their 2025 international commitments with a defeat on home soil, falling 3-0 to Croatia just days after securing an impressive 3-2 victory over the same opponents.

This time, however, Croatia were clearly the superior side. They dominated proceedings from start to finish and could have added more goals throughout the 90 minutes.

Malta still produced a handful of chances of their own, but were ultimately outmuscled and outworked by Croatia’s physical presence.

Coach Manuela Tesse opted for several changes to her lineup, especially with the match having no impact on FIFA rankings.

Maya Cachia (Hibernians) replaced Giulia D’Antuono (Mġarr United) in goal, while at the back, Oceane Grange (Essevee Women, Belgium) joined captain Emma Lipman (Genoa Women) and Stephania Farrugia (Birkirkara) in a switch from the usual 4-2-3-1 to a 3-5-2 setup.

In midfield, Nicole Sciberras (Hibernians), Shona Zammit (Swieqi United) and Rachel Cuschieri (Genoa Women) kept their places.

Mġarr duo Rebecca Bajada and Yulya Carella operated as wingbacks – Carella featuring in her third different position for Malta after stints as an inside midfielder and winger in her last two appearances.

Upfront, Maria Farrugia (Bristol City) partnered Sara Saliba (Swieqi United), both of whom had scored in the 3-2 win last Friday.

Croatia threatened immediately, with Lucija Vunić firing over before Cachia denied Ivana Rudelić from close range. Malta responded through a Cuschieri effort that was saved by veteran goalkeeper Doris Bačić.

Croatia’s danger from the right flank was constant, with 2001-born Karla Kurkutović – who entered the match with four goals in three caps – proving a handful for Grange in one-on-one situations.

Left-back Barbara Živković went close with a whipped freekick, while Kurkutović and Rudelić both squandered promising opportunities, the latter denied again by Cachia.

Malta’s best first-half chance came when Farrugia set up Cuschieri, but Bačić produced another strong save. Croatia eventually made their pressure count when Maja Joščak headed in from close range, giving the visitors a deserved halftime lead.

At the break, Malta made one change as Kailey Willis replaced Carella.

The team reverted to a 4-3-3, with Willis deployed as a central striker supported by Farrugia and Saliba. Grange and Bajada shifted to fullback roles, while Farrugia and Lipman formed a centre-back pairing.

Yet within minutes, Croatia doubled their lead. A defensive mistake from Farrugia allowed Rudelić through on goal and she made no mistake, beating Cachia from inside the area.

Cuschieri attempted to spark a reaction with a freekick, but Bačić remained untroubled. Malta struggled to settle into their build-up play, repeatedly suffocated by Croatia’s aggressive high pressing.

Joščak threatened again with a first-time effort from a freekick, while Malta looked to respond through Sciberras, who shot over, and Farrugia, whose attempt was blocked.

Midway through the half, Tesse introduced more changes – Patricia Ebejer (Mġarr) replacing Cachia in goal, Maya Lucia returning to the backline, and Brenda Borg (Mġarr) marking her long-awaited comeback after injury, celebrating her 80th cap.

Croatia, however, maintained control and added a third through Kurkutović, who continued her remarkable scoring form by netting her fifth goal in four senior caps.

Malta will return to action in February when they face Turkey in their opening qualifier for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.