International ‘A’ Friendly
5 June 2026 – Haladás Stadium, Szombathely, Hungary

Azerbaijan 0
Malta 2
(Half-time: 0-0)

Scorers: Joseph Mbong 65′, Alex Satariano 86′

Malta concluded their 2025/26 international campaign in impressive fashion with a deserved 2-0 victory over Azerbaijan in an international friendly played at the Haladás Stadium in Szombathely, Hungary.

Second-half goals from Joseph Mbong and Alex Satariano secured the win for Emilio De Leo’s side, who combined defensive resilience with clinical finishing to overcome an Azerbaijan team that created numerous opportunities but was repeatedly denied by an outstanding Rashed Al-Tumi.

De Leo made four changes to the side that faced Slovakia earlier in the week. Goalkeeper Rashed Al-Tumi and midfielder Andrea Zammit were both handed their first international starts after previously making three substitute appearances each, while Enrico Pepe returned to central defence in place of Kean Scicluna. Aleandro Garzia also earned his first start at right-back in only his second senior appearance. Captain Matthew Guillaumier, making his 55th international appearance, was the most experienced player in Malta’s starting XI.

Azerbaijan began brightly and threatened after just five minutes when Khayal Aliyev forced Al-Tumi into an excellent save. The Malta goalkeeper was called into action again on 18 minutes, comfortably gathering a curling effort from Elvin Cafarguliyev.

Malta gradually settled into the contest. Keyon Ewurum saw a long-range effort blocked before Ilyas Chouaref tested Emil Balayev with a strike from 20 metres that the Azerbaijani goalkeeper collected without difficulty.

The hosts came closest to breaking the deadlock midway through the first half when Nariman Akhundzade found Mahir Emreli at the far post, but the forward dragged his first-time effort wide. Minutes later, Al-Tumi produced another outstanding save, tipping Toral Bayramov’s powerful drive behind for a corner.

The Malta goalkeeper continued his impressive display in first-half stoppage time, denying Bayramov once again following a swift Azerbaijani counterattack before the defence completed the clearance. Malta responded immediately through Ewurum, whose dangerous cross from the left was intercepted by Balayev.

The second half followed a similar pattern, with Azerbaijan enjoying much of the possession and territory. Emreli almost caught Al-Tumi out with a fierce cross-shot shortly after the restart, while Abdulakh Khaybulayev forced another fine save on 56 minutes as the Malta custodian pushed his low effort around the post.

Against the run of play, Malta struck the decisive first blow in the 65th minute. Chouaref broke clear down the right and delivered a low cross into the penalty area. Mbong’s initial effort was blocked, but the Hamrun Spartans forward reacted quickest to convert the rebound from close range and give Malta the lead.

The visitors nearly doubled their advantage moments later when Gabriel Mentz won possession high up the pitch, only to see his effort flash narrowly wide of the target.

Azerbaijan increased the pressure in search of an equaliser. Renat Dadasov’s free-kick was deflected behind for a corner before Vusal Isgandarli squandered a glorious opportunity, firing wide from close range with only Al-Tumi to beat. Mentz then produced a brave block to deny another Dadasov effort, while Isa Isaev rattled the crossbar with a powerful strike from outside the area.

With four minutes remaining, Malta sealed the victory through an excellent team move. Satariano combined neatly with Mbong before receiving the return pass and unleashing a powerful left-footed finish beyond Balayev to make it 2-0.

Al-Tumi capped a superb individual performance with yet another outstanding save in stoppage time to deny Isgandarli. Moments later, he was replaced by 19-year-old James Sissons, with the Chesterfield goalkeeper making his senior international debut in the closing stages.

The final whistle confirmed a morale-boosting victory for Malta, who ended their season on a high note with a disciplined, organised and clinical display against an Azerbaijan side that created numerous chances but found no way past an inspired Al-Tumi.

Teams

Azerbaijan:
Emil Balayev; Elvi Badalov, Badavi Guseynov (Aykhan Guseynov 84), Anton Kryvotsyuk, Qismat Aliyev (Tellur Mutallimov 70), Elvin Cafarguliyev, Emil Safarov (Abdulakh Khaybulayev 46), Aleksey Isayev, Toral Bayramov (Rustam Akhmedzade 70), Khayal Aliyev (Nariman Akhundzade 8, Vusal Isgandarli 70), Mahir Emreli (Renat Dadasov 70).
Coach: Aykhan Abbasov.

Malta:
Rashed Al-Tumi (James Sissons 90+4); Aleandro Garzia (Zach Muscat 46), Kurt Shaw, Enrico Pepe (Gabriel Mentz 62), Juan Corbalan (Myles Beerman 46); Matthew Guillaumier (Brandon Paiber 62), Teddy Teuma (Paul Mbong 62); Alex Satariano (Jake Azzopardi 90+4), Ilyas Chouaref (Carlo Zammit-Lonardelli 84), Keyon Ewurum (Kevin Cannavò 62), Andrea Zammit (Joseph Mbong 46).
Coach: Emilio De Leo.

Referee: Mihaly Kapraly (Hungary)

Yellow Cards: Elvi Badalov (Azerbaijan), Keyon Ewurum (Malta)

Attendance: 150