Malta began their UEFA Nations League journey in the best possible way, coming from behind to secure a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Andorra at the Encamp Stadium.
The Malta national team found themselves stunned early in the match. Despite dominating the initial possession, it was the home side that capitalized first. In the 18th minute, Moises San Nicolas sped clear on the left flank and fed Rodrigo inside the area. Although Henry Bonello pushed away the initial shot, Guillaume Lopez reacted quickest to fire home the rebound. Andorra nearly doubled their lead on 26 minutes when Sola was left unmarked in front of goal, but he shockingly volleyed over the crossbar.
Stunned and lacking early flair, Malta desperately needed a moment of brilliance to find their footing. That breakthrough arrived eight minutes before the interval. Teddy Teuma delivered a fine pass into the path of Irvin Cardona, and the Saint-Étienne forward brilliantly controlled the ball before hitting a rasping volley past goalkeeper Iker Alvarez. Matthew Guillaumier should have added a second just before the break after being set up in space by Ilyas Chouaref, but he incredibly fired wide.
After the restart, Malta coach Emilio De Leo introduced Juan Corbalan in place of Zach Muscat to shift the momentum. The match remained evenly poised with chances at both ends. Substitute Albert Rosas hit a firm volley that whizzed past the upright, and Bonello was forced into a crucial save to keep out Jordi Alaez's dangerous effort.
De Leo injected further energy by bringing on Keyon Ewurum and Brandon Paiber. Ewurum made an immediate impact, denied only by a sharp block from Alvarez. The pressure eventually paid off in the 80th minute. Cardona sped inside the area and laid the ball off to Teuma, who expertly curled his shot past the Andorran goalkeeper to complete the comeback.
Malta had a chance to seal the victory six minutes from time when Chouaref was upended in the box, but the forward blasted the resulting penalty kick over the bar.
Having passed their opening test, Emilio De Leo's side will now look to maintain their momentum. They face Liechtenstein in an upcoming friendly before hosting Gibraltar on October 1 at the National Stadium.
ANDORRA I. Alvarez, B. Borra, M. Llovera, I. Olivera, M. San Nicolas (87 A. Carnellas), A. Rodrigo, E. De las Heras (67 J. Alaez), Pau Babot, O. Remolins (87 E. Vales), G. Sola (75 A. Martinez), G. Lopez (67 A. Rosas).
MALTA H. Bonello, Z. Muscat (46 J. Corbalan), K. Shaw, E. Pepe, R. Camenzuli, A. Satariano (74 B. Paiber), M. Guillaumier, P. Mbong (74 K. Ewurum), T. Teuma, I. Chouaref, I. Cardona.