Malta’s Dorianne Theuma (right) battles for the ball against Georgia. Photo: Domenic Aquilina

Georgia 1
Malta 2

Malta captain Dorianne Theuma scored a last-gasp winner as the national team moved a step away from qualifying to the main draw of the Euro Championship following a 2-1 win over Georgia, at the Tedesco Stadium, yesterday.

With one match to go in the four-team preliminary round group, Mark Gatt’s girls are leading the standings with maximum points from two matches, having won the opener 5-3 against Andorra on Saturday.

Malta’s next opponents on Thursday (11am kick-off) will be Faroe Islands who maintained their hopes in Group 2 with a comprehensive 8-0 win over Andorra in yesterday’s opener.

The Faroe Islands had lost Saturday’s match against Georgia 2-0. One team qualifies for the main draw along with the top team in Group 1 which is currently being played in Moldova.

Malta require one point from Thursday’s match to qualify as group winners.

Georgia were more on the offensive in the opening half, with captain Tatiana Matveeva leading her team’s charge. However, two minutes after the restart Ylenia Carabott was on the right spot to score from a Theuma corner.

Malta only held on to their advantage for eight minutes as Georgia equalised through a Lela Chichinadze penalty.

Rachel Cuschieri threatened on a couple of occasions as Malta tried to hit back.

Keeper Nina Chkuaseli also did well to deny Carabott but right at the death, the Georgia no.1 was left helpless as Theuma hit home from a Stefania Farrugia free-kick.

Georgia: N. Chkuaseli, N. Kochmazashil, N. Pasikashvili, T. Todadze, T. Matveeva, L. Chichinadze, K. Tchkonia, A. Cheminava, T. Tatuashvili, A. Zakhaidze (65 Natia Skhirtladze), N. Sutidze.

Malta: J. Xuereb, G. Zahra (71 M. Debono), Y. Vella (70 M. Borg), S. Farrugia, D. Theuma, Y. Carabott, R. Cuschieri, S. Zammit, J. Flask, C. Zammit (72 A.M. Said), B. Borg.

Referee: D. Gokcek (Turkey).

Standings: Malta 6; Faroe Islands, Georgia 3; Andorra 0.