Nations League play-off: Malta fall 2-0 to Luxembourg in disappointing first-leg defeat

MALTA 0 LUXEMBOURG 2 MALTA: H. Bonello, R. Camenzuli, K. Shaw, M. Guillaumier, T. Teuma, I. Cardona, E. Pepe, I. Chouaref, Z. Muscat, A. Satariano LUXEMBOURG: A. Moris, S. Korac, F. Bohnert, C. Martins, A. Dardari, D. Sinani, D. Carlson, V. Thill, L. Barreiro, M. Olesen Referee: I. Peljto Assistant Referees: S. Ibrismbegovic, D. Beljo At the National Stadium in Ta' Qali, Malta on Thursday suffered a disappointing 2-0 defeat in the first leg of the play-off for promotion to the Nations League C, meaning they will now head into the second leg in Luxembourg trailing by two goals. The opening minutes of the match were quiet, with both teams sizing each other up and staying compact, unwilling to take risks and concede the first goal. Luxembourg's first dangerous move came in the 25th minute when Daniel Sinani made a good run, but his right-footed effort went wide of Henry Bonello's post. In the 28th minute, Malta produced a well-worked move. Teddy Teuma found Irvin Cardona, who cut the ball back to the far post, but Matthew Guillaumier's finish was weak and easily gathered by the goalkeeper. Towards the end of the first half, Malta had a golden opportunity when a pass from the right by Paul Mbong found Irvin Cardona, but he fired wide. A minute later, Malta were dangerous again when, from a teasing pass, Ilyas Chouaref saw his cross deflected onto the post, with the first half ending goalless. At the start of the second half, Luxembourg took the lead when a cross from the left by Florian Bohnert found Vincent Thill unmarked in the box, and he finished past Henry Bonello to make it 1-0. With Luxembourg managing to control the remainder of the match, Malta failed to pose much of a threat. Then, in added time, Mathias Olesen doubled Luxembourg's lead directly from a corner, making Malta's task in the second leg in Luxembourg even more difficult.
2026-03-27 06:29:00