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FT: Malta 2-4 Northern Ireland (18: 00 BST) Mason heads in first NI goal to open scoring but Malta hit back a minute later through Farrugia Long-range Mason effort restores NI's lead and Johnson adds third Leyla Mc Farland scores fine fourth but Ayres pulls one back Holloway sent off for two yellow cards Jana Mc Cabe FT: Malta 2-4 Northern Ireland That is all from us this evening as Michael Mc Ardle's tenure as Northern Ireland manager gets off to a perfect start with two wins from two games. You can read Lauren Mc Cann's report from the match by clicking the 'Report' tab at the top of the page. Stay tuned on the BBC website and app for highlights and reaction from the game. Thanks for joining us. Enjoy the rest of your Saturday night! FT: Malta 2-4 Northern Ireland Michael Mc Ardle's attentions will now turn to the final two matches of the campaign. They travel to face Turkey before closing the campaign with a home fixture against Switzerland. FT: Malta 2-4 Northern Ireland One negative from tonight's game is that Rebecca Holloway will now miss the away match against Turkey in June following her red card. FT: Malta 2-4 Northern Ireland Just like in Lurgan, Rebecca Mc Kenna was handed the captain's armband this evening and, once again, led by example. With captain Simone Magill absent through pregnancy, Michael Mc Ardle is lucky to have other leaders who can step up and fill her big role until she returns. FT: Malta 2-4 Northern Ireland The result is Northern Ireland's first away win since July 2024 when they also beat tonight's hosts. FT: Malta 2-4 Northern Ireland Northern Ireland remain third but now have six points and are just one point behind Turkey in second in Group B2. As for Malta, their search for their first points of the campaign continues. Malta 2-4 Northern Ireland A really promising opening two games for Michael Mc Ardle, whose side claim six points from their double header against Malta. Malta 2-4 Northern Ireland Aimee Kerr replaces Megan Bell for the final few seconds of this one. Malta 2-4 Northern Ireland The frantic pace of the second half has significantly calmed down in injury time. Malta 2-4 Northern Ireland We will have five minutes of additional time at the end of the busy second half. Malta 2-4 Northern Ireland Certainly a much different second half compared to the opening 45 minutes! Four goals, a red card and plenty of chances mean that I have not had to turn to my bad jokes to fill time! Malta 2-4 Northern Ireland It has been goals galore at the Centenary Stadium and watch how Leah Ayres scored Malta's second. This video can not be played Watch: Leah Ayres makes it 4-2 Malta 2-4 Northern Ireland Goodness, that is a big let off for Northern Ireland! Jackie Burns misjudges Caragh Hamilton's pass and Leah Ayres intercepts, but the ball falls kindly for Northern Ireland as Burns breaths a huge sigh of relief. Malta 2-4 Northern Ireland Haley Bugeja has been heavily involved in the action tonight and attempts to get on the scoresheet, but Jackie Burns comfortably collects her shot. Malta 2-4 Northern Ireland Substitute Casey Howe is cautioned for a foul on Haley Bugeja. This has been a really frantic second half! Malta 2-4 Northern Ireland Kailey Willis is replaced by fellow forward Crista Chetcuti Ganado. Malta 2-4 Northern Ireland Watch how Leyla Mc Farland netted her first senior international goal. This video can not be played Watch: Leyla Mc Farland gets a fourth Leah Ayres (80 mins) The goals keep coming! Northern Ireland fail to clear a hopeful ball into the box and Leah Ayres curls a shot past Jackie Burns. The substitute is on the pitch a matter of minutes and, by her reaction, can't seem to believe she has just scored! Malta 1-4 Northern Ireland Watch how Nat Johnson made it 3-1 in Ta' Qali. This video can not be played Watch: Nat Johnson adds a third Malta 1-4 Northern Ireland Nicole Sciberras and Oceane Grange are brought off for Leah Ayres and Tammy Falzon. This video can not be played Watch: Northern Ireland hit four in Malta At a glance Northern Ireland pick up first away win since July 2024 and second victory over Malta in a week Ellie Mason heads home from corner on 40 minutes but Malta reply a minute later as Maria Farrugia rifles in an equaliser Mason puts NI back in front with fine hit from range and Nat Johnson nets third Rebecca Holloway sent off for two yellow card offences before Leyla Mc Farland scores a fourth and Leah Ayres adds consolation for Malta Defender Ellie Mason scored twice as Northern Ireland saw off Malta 4-2 in their 2027 Women's World Cup qualifier in an entertaining game at the Centenary Stadium. Mason opened the scoring for NI on 40 minutes before Maria Farrugia replied a minute later to level for Malta. Full-back Mason restored their lead on 51 minutes with a fine long-range strike from outside the box with Nat Johnson adding a third from a corner. After Rebecca Holloway was sent off, Leyla Mc Farland netted a fine fourth for Michael Mc Ardle's side, who have now won their first two games under the Scottish boss in Group B2. After a slow start to the game, Megan Bell squandered a good chance to open the scoring on the half-hour mark. The Linfield midfielder burst into the box to latch onto Holloway's raking pass but saw her tame effort drift wide. The away side then broke the deadlock on 40 minutes as Mason rose highest to meet an inviting corner from Bell and power home a header for her first international goal. That goal sparked Malta into life as they extinguished NI's lead less than a minute later, hitting back through Farrugia, who volleyed into the roof of the net. Malta almost went ahead just before the break when Jackie Burns was called into action to thwart Haley Bugeja after Farrugia had unselfishly squared to her teammate. NI made a bright start to the second half and were rewarded with a second goal on 51 minutes as Mason pounced on a loose clearance from Malta to fire a low first-time shot into the bottom corner from outside the box. They extended their advantage on 69 minutes when Johnson turned home from substitute Danielle Maxwell's corner for her first NI goal. Mc Ardle's side then had Holloway sent off for as she received a second yellow card a foul on Kailey Willis, but they responded well to going down to 10 by adding a fourth goal on 72 minutes. Mc Farland raced onto a long ball forward, held off Oceane Grange and arrowed a shot into the far corner for her first international goal. Substitutes Ayres pulled a goal back for Malta eight minutes later, capitalising on a defensive lapse from Rebecca Mc Kenna to blast past Burns, but NI saw out the victory which moves them a point behind Turkey in second before the two teams meet in June. Mc Farland showed great strength and composure to score NI's fourth goal in Malta It was more chaotic than their routine thumping 4-0 win to start his reign as NI boss, but Mc Ardle won't care and will be delighted that his side were again able to hit four and win. Scoring goals and winning away games have been a struggle for NI under Mc Ardle's predecessor Tanya Oxtoby, as evidenced by the fact that the victory in the Centenary Stadium was their first away win since they beat Malta 2-0 nearly two years ago. Malta were a better defensive unit on home soil in the first half after they were routinely cut open at will in Mourneview Park, which forced NI to be patient with their mountain of possession to create any openings and they certainly were clinical with their chances. They scored two goals from set-pieces, which have previously proved to be key in their success under Kenny Shiels, with Mason and Mc Farland also netting fine individual goals. While Keri Halliday was the star on Tuesday night with her two goals and lively display, it was left-back Mason who took all the plaudits in Ta'Qali with her first two NI goals and an all round solid display. Mc Ardle will be disappointed by NI's soft defending for the Malta goals, but given the chaotic nature of the game, he will be more focused on the positives and the fact they took home another vital three points in the race for second place. Although it is only another victory against a side ranked 39 places below them in the world rankings, the six points picked up in this window with eight goals scored should breed confidence ahead of two games against better opposition in Turkey and Switzerland next month. Last Updated 18th April 2026 at 23: 31 Please Note: All times UK. Tables are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made. Manager: Manuela Tesse Formation: 4 - 3 - 3 Manager: Michael Mc Ardle Formation: 4 - 1 - 4 - 1 Manager: Manuela Tesse Formation: 4 - 3 - 3 Manager: Michael Mc Ardle Formation: 4 - 1 - 4 - 1 Women's WC Qualification Europe All competitions All competitions All competitions Copyright © 2026 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.