Successful start for Staicu

New Romania coach Gheorghe Staicu led his side to a 3-0 win against Malta in Sunday's Group 5 qualifier.

Defensive tactics
Romania's UEFA Women's Championship campaign continues to show promise but they were made to work hard for their victory against a defensive-minded Maltese side. A stifling first-half saw Romania's attacks blunted by some deep Maltese defending and it took a change of tack in the second half for the home side to press home their advantage.

Deliu lob
They took the lead after 55 minutes as Teodora Anton converted a left wing cross with a fine header from nine metres, but with Romania's Daniela Pufulete missing four good chances, the home side were not truly in the ascendany until the 70th minute when Florina Deliu scored the second goal with a fine 16-metre lob.

'Partially satisfied'
Alexandra Talnar completed the scoring in the final minute of normal time, but despite the emphatic win, Staicu was not overjoyed. "I am partially satisfied with what I saw and the way we played," he said. "Of course, it's a good result, but it's a pity that my players played without courage and inspiration in the first half."

First international
Malta coach Pierre Brincat was pleased to have avoided total humiliation in his side's first ever Women's Championship fixture. "I am satisfied with the result and with the way we managed to hold Romania in the first half," he said. "It was our first international game and after I saw that Azerbaijan lost 11-0, I was keen not to lose by the same score. Fortunately, my players managed to play a very good first half."