A fantastic and clinical winning display. In Castel di Sangro, Milena Bertolini’s side beat Malta 5-0 in their final game of their year and in doing so picked up their sixth consecutive win in EURO 2021 qualifying. In front of almost 3,000 spectators at the Stadio Teofilo Patini, the Azzurre showed the qualities they possess in terms of fitness and technique as they broke down Malta’s defensive ‘wall’. The team headed into the break four to the good following goals from Cernoia (brace), Sabatino and Giugliano and, while the second half was a bit more of a struggle with Italy also being reduced to ten players, Milena’s girls added to their tally in stoppage time through Greggi’s great strike – her first goal for the National Team.

Italy remain at the top of Group B with a three-point advantage over Denmark, who have played one less game. The Azzurre’s next qualifying matches against Israel and Bosnia will be played in April 2020, while two decisive showdowns against Denmark then await (9 June at home and 22 September away).

“I asked the team to finish 2019 well,” said Milena Bertolini after the match. “It’s been a fantastic year for us and women’s football, the girls were also great today and played some nice football. Next year, we’ll do everything to qualify for the European Championship. It won’t be easy, but this group has great desire to continue to do well and demonstrate that our football is of an excellent standard in doing so.”

THE MATCH – Compared to the match played in Benevento on Friday, two changes were made to the starting line-up: Fusetti and Boattin were in for the injured Gama and Guagni, with Bartoli being asked to play out on the right in the position that the Fiorentina captain usually takes up. Malta went for a 4-5-1 formation and included two players currently plying their trade in Serie A: Pink Bari midfielder Shona Zammit and Florentia San Gimignano defender Emma Lipman both started. Meanwhile, Juventus defender Sciberras was ready to come on from the bench if required. The Azzurre started off strongly and came close to scoring twice in the opening stages through Sabatino and Girelli, but the opposition rearguard just about managed to deal with the efforts. Malta looked organised in defence and occasionally attempted to hit Italy on the break. However, they couldn’t do anything about Cernoia’s free kick from just over 20 yards out which beat goalkeeper Xuereb and gave the hosts the lead. The Juventus midfielder then doubled her and Italy’s tally ten minutes later with a great strike from the edge of the area. A third arrived shortly afterwards through Sabatino, who was alert and managed to finish off Girelli’s perfect assist. Prior to the half-time whistle, Giugliano made it four with a powerful shot from distance.

After the restart, the Azzurre kept up the tempo and continued to attack with the aim of improving their goal difference. Opportunities kept on coming, while Greggi came on to make her second National Team appearance. With Italy camped in Malta’s half of the pitch, Giugliano was sent off in the 71st minute after receiving a second yellow for entering the pitch following an injury without permission from the referee. As was the case in Benevento, Bertolini’s girls were forced to play the closing stages with ten on the pitch. Despite this, they continued to create chances as Tarenzi and Girelli went close. Italy finally got a fifth in added time thanks to another strike from distance, this time from Greggi.

ITALY 5-0 MALTA

Goals: 27’ and 37’ Cernoia (I), 42’ Sabatino, 45’ Giugliano, 91’ Greggi

ITALY (4-3-3): Giuliani; Bartoli (46’ Bergamaschi), Fusetti, Linari, Boattin; Rosucci, Giugliano, Galli (56’ Greggi), Cernoia; Girelli, Sabatino (67’ Tarenzi). Substitutes: Aprile, Piazza, Lenzini, Merlo, Marinelli, Tarenzi, Caruso, Glionna, Salvatori Rinaldi, Tucceri Cimini. Head Coach: Milena Bertolini.

MALTA (4-5-1): Xuereb; Flask, Zammit, Lipman, Farrugia (46’ Sciberras); Cuschieri (46’ Said), Zammit, Sultana (69’ Xuereb), Borg, Theuma; Farrugia. Substitutes: Borg, Mifsud, Carabott, Borg, Xuereb, Turner. Head Coach: Mark Antony Gatt.

Referee: Eleni Antoniu (GRE), Assistants: Chrysoula Kourompylia (GRE) and Sofia Athanasopoulou (GRE). Fourth official: Anastasia Mylopoulou (GRE).
Notes: Attendance: 3000. Bookings: Giugliano (I), Girelli (I). Sent off: Giugliano (I)