2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup European Qualifying Group B2
Pendik Stadium, Istanbul

TÜRKIYE…3
MALTA…0
(HT 2-0)

7’ Lexine Farrugia OG (TUR), 29’ Ebru Topçu (TUR), 88’ Arzu Karabulut (TUR)

The Malta women’s national football team commenced their Group B2 European Qualifying campaign with a 3-0 defeat away to the Türkiye women’s national football team on Tuesday afternoon. Despite creating several promising opportunities, Malta were unable to capitalise, as the home side controlled large spells of the encounter.

Malta endured a difficult start, with Türkiye posing an early threat from set-pieces. The breakthrough arrived in the seventh minute when a corner delivery into the penalty area resulted in an unfortunate own goal by Lexine Farrugia, who was unable to clear her lines as the ball found its way into the net.

Türkiye almost doubled their advantage ten minutes later. A dangerous free-kick into the area caused a scramble inside the Maltese box, but the visitors’ defence reacted well to eventually clear the danger.

As the half progressed, Malta attempted to settle into the game, yet the hosts struck again midway through the first half. After regaining possession high up the pitch, Ebru Topçu unleashed a powerful long-range effort that beat Giulia D’Antuono to make it 2-0.

Manuela Tesse’s side showed resilience under sustained pressure for the remainder of the first half and regrouped during the interval.

Malta emerged with renewed intent after the break. Five minutes into the second half, intricate link-up play around the Turkish penalty area saw Maria Farrugia through on goal against Selda Akgöz. The Turkish captain made the save, before the assistant referee’s flag was raised for offside.

The visitors continued to push forward and nearly reduced the deficit in the 67th minute. Haley Bugeja found Maria Farrugia at the edge of the box, but her left-footed strike narrowly cleared the crossbar.

Türkiye responded with further attacking moves. A well-worked passage of play ended with a cut-back from the right, only for Maya Lucia to produce a vital block. Shortly after, Selen Altunkulak’s powerful volley was met by a solid save from D’Antuono.

Malta defended resolutely in the closing stages, but the hosts sealed the result in the 88th minute. Arzu Karabulut found space inside the penalty area and calmly converted from close range to make it 3-0.

The Maltese side will look to respond when they return to action on home soil this Saturday, hosting Switzerland at the Centenary Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 19:00hrs.

Türkiye
1 Selda Akgöz (GK) (C), 2 Meryem Küçükbirinci, 3 Fatma Şakar (17 İlayda Civelek, 72’), 4 Eda Karataş, 6 Selen Altunkulak (7 Arzu Karabulut, 84’), 9 Kader Hançar (22 Melike Öztürk, 84’), 10 Ebru Topçu, 14 Halle Houssein (18 Başak İçinözbebek, 78’), 16 Ece Türkoğlu (11 Miray Cin, 72’), 19 Busem Şeker, 20 Elif Keskin
Coach: Necla Gungor Kiragasi

Malta
1 Giulia D’Antuono (GK), 4 Emma Lipman (C), 5 Stephania Farrugia, 7 Lexine Farrugia (15 Sara Saliba, 78’), 8 Yulya Carella (22 Leah Ayres, 62’), 10 Maria Farrugia, 11 Jade Flask, 17 Brenda Borg (3 Emma Sophia Flannery, 89’), 18 Emma Xuereb (13 Maya Lucia, 46’), 20 Nicole Sciberras (14 Shona Zammit, 62’), 21 Haley Bugeja
Coach: Manuela Tesse

Referee: Eugenia Gil Soriano (ESP)

Yellow cards: Emma Xuereb (MLT), Kader Hançar (TUR), Nicole Sciberras (MLT), Emma Lipman (MLT), Jade Flask (MLT)