Andre Schembri became the first Maltese footballer to score in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday night during a match which saw him help secure a momentary draw for his team, Apollon Limassol. 

Schembri scored a beautiful goal on an international stage, but seemed to be holding back from celebrating too much. As the Malta vice-captain explained this morning, however, there was a very valid reason behind that. 

“Celebrating my goal didn’t feel right after what happened in Malta this week,” Schembri confessed in a Facebook status posted this morning. 

The Cypriot football club were trailing 1-0 when Schembri’s header levelled terms. Atalanta went on to win their home match by 3-1, but that one goal by Schembri might prove instrumental when the two teams meet again. 

Apollon Limassol will face Atalanta for a second round, this time at home, on the 2nd of November. 

As it stands, Apollon Limassol have 2 points in their Group E, trailing in third place behind Olympique Lyonnais and just topping Everton. 

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David Grech Urpani

Lovin Malta's Head of Content, Dave has been in journalism for the better half of the last decade. Prefers Instagram, but has been known to doomscroll on TikTok. Loves chicken, women's clothes and Kanye West (most of the time).