HELSINKI: Malta snatched their first win in 2026 World Cup qualifying on Friday, converting their only shot on target to stun Finland 1-0 in Helsinki.
According to the Malta Football Association, this was only the fourth win ever by Malta in World Cup qualifying.
Midfielder Jake Grech came off the bench in the 79th minute and scored the decisive goal three minutes later from the edge of the area. It was only Malta’s second goal in seven qualifiers, against 16 conceded.
Finland enjoyed most of the possession and had 14 attempts, even hitting the woodwork.
Malta rose to fourth in Europe Group G, five points behind Finland, which can’t qualify. The Netherlands could later secure a place in the 2026 finals from the same group with a win over Poland.
Meanwhile, in Group A, Germany will be guaranteed of a top-two finish if it beats Luxembourg and Northern Ireland fails to defeat Slovakia, or if Germany draws and Northern Ireland loses.
Malta’s only shot on target beats Finland in World Cup qualifying
https://arab.news/ntqwe
Malta’s only shot on target beats Finland in World Cup qualifying
- According to the Malta Football Association, this was only the fourth win ever by Malta in World Cup qualifying
Bologna snatch 2-1 win over Parma to reach Italian Cup quarterfinals, will face Milan or Lazio
- Castro headed in a cross from Emil Holm in the 89th minute
- The home side leveled shortly before halftime
BOLOGNA, Italy: Substitute Santiago Castro’s last-gasp goal sent Bologna into the Italian Cup quarterfinals as the defending champion came from behind to beat Parma 2-1 on Thursday.
Bologna, which won for the competition for the first time in 52 years last season, will face either AC Milan or Lazio, who were playing each other later.
Castro headed in a cross from Emil Holm in the 89th minute.
Serie A struggler Parma had taken a surprise lead in the 13th minute when Adrian Benedyczak ran onto a through ball from Mathias Løvik and slotted past Federico Ravaglia.
But the home side leveled shortly before halftime. Jonathan Rowe’s initial attempt hit the post but the English winger controlled the rebound and fired it home for his first goal since joining Bologna in August.
There was another positive note for Bologna as Ciro Immobile came on as a late substitute for his first appearance since a thigh injury in August.
