UEFA NATIONS LEAGUE 2026/27 
League D, Group 1 
24.09.26, Estadi de la FAF, Encamp, Andorra 
 
ANDORRA…1 
MALTA…2 
(HT 1-1) 
 
1-0 Lopez 17, 1-1 Cardona 36, 1-2 Teuma 81.  
 

Malta opened the fifth edition of the UEFA Nations League with a positive result in Andorra, coming from behind to beat the hosts 2-1 thanks to a late winning goal from Teddy Teuma.

It was a deserved victory for Malta on the basis of their second-half performance, as Emilio De Leo’s side dominated proceedings after the interval while wearing an all-white strip.

There were no major surprises in De Leo’s starting line-up, with the same eleven players who started the home match against Luxembourg earlier this year once again given the nod. Matthew Guillaumier retained the captain’s armband, while Zach Muscat was the most capped Maltese player on the pitch, making his 83rd international appearance.

Andorra threatened first after 10 minutes when Gerard Sola’s tame effort went wide, before Malta responded through Teuma, whose effort five minutes later was saved by Andorra goalkeeper Iker Alvarez. From the resulting attack, Guillaumier tried his luck with a diagonal effort that also missed the target.

The hosts took the lead on 17 minutes. Aron Rodrigo was allowed to advance into the box from the left before unleashing a fierce shot that Henry Bonello could only parry, with Guillaume Lopez reacting quickest to fire the rebound beyond the Malta goalkeeper.

Andorra continued to threaten, and on 25 minutes Paul Mbong failed to clear a free-kick, allowing Ian Olivera to head the ball into the path of Sola, who sent a powerful effort high over the bar.

Malta restored parity on 36 minutes. Teuma produced an excellent long pass from the halfway line to find Irvin Cardona, who intelligently evaded his marker Olivera before unleashing a fine half-volley that flew past Alvarez.

Malta produced their best attacking move of the opening half two minutes before the break. Zach Muscat intercepted the ball deep inside the Andorran half and found Ilyas Chouaref, who returned possession to the experienced defender. Muscat then picked out an unmarked Guillaumier, but the midfielder somehow fired wide.

The opening 15 minutes of the second half were relatively uneventful before Teuma once again found Cardona, this time with a curling cross. The St Etienne striker directed his effort towards the far post, but Alvarez was equal to it.

On 65 minutes, Ryan Camenzuli was fouled just outside the area by Eric de las Heras, who had been booked only a few minutes earlier but escaped a second yellow card.

Andorra almost regained the lead two minutes later when substitute Albert Rosas capitalised on an error in the Maltese defence, but his effort went wide.

Malta continued to press for a second goal. On 72 minutes, half-time substitute Juan Carlos Corbolan set up Chouaref on the right side of the box, with the winger laying the ball off to Alex Satariano. His first-time effort, however, was kept out by Alvarez.

The Andorran goalkeeper was called into action again four minutes later, blocking a close-range effort from another Maltese substitute, Keyon Ewurum, who had replaced Mbong moments earlier.

Bonello was also called upon in the 79th minute, getting down well to block Jordi Alaez’s low effort from the edge of the box and turning the ball behind for a corner.

Two minutes later, Malta completed the turnaround.

Shaw found Cardona inside the box, with the striker doing brilliantly to keep the ball in play before setting up Teuma. The Malta captain made no mistake from close range, scoring his sixth international goal to put Malta 2-1 ahead.

There was further drama three minutes later when Chouaref was brought down inside the box by Alexandre Martinez, with the referee immediately pointing to the spot. Chouaref took responsibility in an attempt to score his first goal for Malta, but sent his penalty high over the bar.

Andorra pushed forward in stoppage time but failed to create any serious danger. Chouaref came closest to adding a third for Malta after an excellent individual run down the left flank, only for Alvarez to deny him once again.

Malta now return home for three consecutive matches at the National Stadium in Ta’ Qali. First up is a friendly against Liechtenstein on Sunday, kicking off at 18:30, before two further Nations League fixtures against Gibraltar next Thursday at 20:45 and Andorra on Sunday 4 October at 18:00.

Andorra 
Iker Alvarez, Biel Borra, Moises San Nicolas (Alex Cornella 87), Max Llovera, Ian Olivera, Pau Babot, Aron Rodrigo, Eric de las Heras (Jordi Alaez 67), Ot Remolins (Eric Vales 87), Guillaume Lopez (Albert Rossas 67), Gerard Sola (Alexandre Martinez 76). 
Coach: Koldo Alvarez  
 
Malta 
Henry Bonello, Ryan Camenzuli, Enrico Pepe, Kurt Shaw, Zach Muscat (Juan Corbalan 46), Matthew Guillaumier, Alex Satariano (Brandon Paiber 75), Teddy Teuma (Jake Grech 89), Ilyas Choaref, Paul Mbong (Keyon Ewurum 75), Irvin Cardona. 
Coach: Emilio De Leo 
 
Referee 
Joey Kooij (The Netherlands) 
 
Yellow cards 
Olivera, San Nicolas, Sola, De Las Heras, Rosas (A); Satariano, Shaw 
 
Attendance 905