MALTA           2

Grech 37

Zammit 63

LIECHTENSTEIN      0

MALTA

R. Al Tumi (76 J. Sissons), J. Borg (65 K. Scicluna), G. Mentz (76 G. Mentz), J. Mbong (65 A. Magri Overend), J. Grech (84 M. Guillaumier), B. Paiber (76 K. Cannavo), M. Beerman (84 R. Camenzuli), J. Azzopardi, K. Ewurum (46 P. Mbong), J. Corbalan (46 C. Zammit Lonardelli), B. Tuma (46 A. Zammit).

LIECHTENSTEIN

J. Ospelt, M. Goppel (61 F. Allgauer), L. Traber (75 J. Weissenhofer), M. Buchel (61 M. Buchel), A. Lo Russo (61 A. Sele), K. Kindle (46 F. Luque-Notaro), L. Meier (75 N. Beck), A. Netzer (75 B. Poitner), L. Kranz (61 A. Hasler), N. Hasler (46 A. Zund), J. Hofer.

Referee: Daniyar Sakhi (Kazakhstan FA).

Malta secured a comfortable 2-0 victory over Liechtenstein in an international friendly at the National Stadium, building momentum ahead of their upcoming UEFA Nations League fixture against Gibraltar.

Head coach Emilio De Leo made eleven changes to the starting lineup that previously defeated Andorra, using the match to test fringe players. The hosts initially struggled to find their rhythm and survived a major scare ten minutes into the game when Jake Azzopardi conceded a penalty. Fortunately for Malta, Liechtenstein captain Nicolas Hasler missed the target from the spot.

Malta gradually grew into the contest, with Juan Carlos Corbalan and Gabriel Mentz missing early opportunities. The deadlock was finally broken in the 36th minute when Brandon Paiber delivered a precise low pass into the path of Jake Grech, who drove a firm shot past goalkeeper Justin Ospelt to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.

Following halftime substitutions, Malta maintained control. Andrea Zammit doubled the lead in the 63rd minute, capitalizing on a defensive miscommunication to calmly slot the ball past Ospelt for his first senior international goal.

The win marks Malta's second successive victory and provides valuable insights for De Leo as he evaluates player performances ahead of the crucial League D, Group 1 match against Gibraltar.