Teddy Teuma scored the decisive second-half goal to secure a 1–0 victory for Malta over Andorra on Sunday, October 4, 2026, at the Ta’Qali National Stadium, extending the team’s unbeaten run in UEFA Nations League Group 1 (League D) to five matches, as reported by Paris Sportifs LeFigaro and Walfoot.be.
Teddy Teuma Secures Victory at Ta’Qali National Stadium
Playing in front of home supporters in Ta’ Qali, Malta broke the deadlock shortly after halftime when Teddy Teuma found the net in the 49th minute with a clean strike at the far post, courtesy of an assist from Ylyas Chouaref, according to match reports from Paris Sportifs LeFigaro. Walfoot.be noted that the goal marked the 33-year-old midfielder’s seventh career strike in national team colors, cementing his status as a vital pillar for the squad nicknamed Il-Kavallieri (The Knights). The narrow advantage held through the final whistle despite late pressure from the visitors, maintaining Malta’s position at the top of the three-team group.
Irvin Cardona Completes Heavy International Window
For AS Saint-Étienne forward Irvin Cardona, the fixture brought a demanding international break to a close. Peuple-Vert.fr reported that the attacker once again featured in the starting XI as the focal point of a 4-2-3-1 formation, logging another full 90 minutes on the pitch. While Cardona did not find the scoresheet against Andorra, his consistent deployment shows his heavy workload during the international window. Across the team’s matches in the competition, Cardona played every minute of Malta’s three UEFA Nations League fixtures, accumulating 270 minutes of playing time before his scheduled return to the Forez region. The matches during this stretch included a 1–1 draw against Gibraltar on the preceding Thursday, in which Cardona also played the entirety of the fixture.
Malta Strengthens Grip on Group 1 First Place
With the three points secured, Malta strengthened its grip on first place in Group 1, bringing its total to seven points from three matches and extending a five-match unbeaten streak across all competitions, as outlined by SportyTrader and Walfoot.be. The group also features Gibraltar, placing the Maltese side in a favorable position to earn promotion into League C. Conversely, Andorra’s away struggles continued, with the defeat extending a winless run on foreign soil that stretches back to September 2022.
Return to Ligue 2 Action for Saint-Étienne
Following the conclusion of international commitments, Cardona is set to travel back to club duties at Saint-Étienne early in the week. Peuple-Vert.fr noted that barring any unforeseen fitness issues, the forward is expected to feature in the starting lineup for the upcoming home fixture against Rodez at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard on Saturday, October 10, 2026. The match carries significant weight for Saint-Étienne as the squad looks to regain momentum following a two-match winless run in domestic play.
Malta Won Previous Matches Against Andorra
Malta had previously launched its campaign on September 24 with a 2–1 victory away against Andorra, a fixture in which Cardona contributed both a goal and an assist. In their subsequent outing approximately ten days prior to the latest meeting, the Maltese side secured 3 points in Andorra through goals scored by Cardona and Teuma. Meanwhile, other division results saw Azerbaijan claim first place in its group via a 1–0 win over Lithuania, with Liechtenstein positioned at the bottom of the standings.
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