The Malta women's team suffered a 5-0 defeat to Romania in the second and final friendly, played at the FRF Football Centre in Bucharest on Sunday.

 

Romania, who are ranked 41st in the FIFA Rankings, enjoyed the lions' share of possession throughout the game, making the most of their clear-cut chances to secure a second straight win after last Thursday's 2-0 victory in their first appointment of this training camp. 

 

For this second game against the Romanian national team, coach Mark Gatt selected a different starting XI with goalkeeper Rachel Borg in goal, Jasmine Vella Turner and Rebecca Bajada given the nod from the start at the back while Simone Buttigieg formed part of the offensive trio alongside Alishia Sultana and Ylenia Carabott. 

 

Romania controlled proceedings in the early stages of the game, with their first opportunity coming on minute 13 when Cosmina Dusa connected with a right-hand cross but her header went wide. 

 

The hosts managed to take the lead on the 18th minute when Stephania Farrugia tripped Stefania Meluta inside the eighteen with Stefania Vatafu converting from the penalty spot to open the score. 

 

Moments later, Dusa almost doubled the score but once again she failed to direct her close-range header towards goal. 

 

The Romanians kept their foot on the gas pedal and after having a goal disallowed, they managed to double their lead when Andreea Voicu found Dusa inside the box and the latter had the simplest of tasks to send the ball into the net from point-blank range. 

 

Malta's reaction came swiftly after through a Dorianne Theuma free-kick which the Romanian custodian dealt it, even though with some difficulty.

 

Nonetheless, it was the Romanians that found the net yet again, when Florentina Olar darted into the box to put the ball past Rachel Borg as the hosts ended the first half with a three-goal lead. 

 

Romania resumed the second half where they had left in the first, looking for another goal to extend their lead and in fact they made their pressure count on the 51st minute when Dusa capitalised on a well-engineered move to make it 4-0. 

 

Coach Gatt introduced new faces in the Maltese side in an attempt to cut into the deficit but it was the hosts that came close to strike again when Dusa's header struck the upright. 

 

On the 77th minute, Haley Bugeja tried her luck from outside the box but her low drive was blocked by Romania's goalkeeper. 

 

Romania had the final say when Vatafu drilled a curling effort from outside the box to wrap up the 5-0 win.

 

This training camp in Romania was part of Malta's preparations for the 2021 UEFA Women's Euro qualifiers which will start in August.