The Malta Under-21 side lost 5-1 to Ukraine in the final match from Group 2 of the UEFA Under-21 Championship qualifiers in Obolon, Kyiv.

Terence Vella gave Malta a surprise lead on 21 minutes but the hosts were quick to level matters on 26 minutes thanks to Serhiy Rybalka.

Rybalka made it 2-1 two minutes in the second half and Dmytro Korkishko socred the third goal eight minutes later. On the 59th minute, Rybalka made it 4-1. Three minutes from time, Dmytro Grechyshkin scored the fifth goal for Ukraine to stay in the hunt for a play-off place.

Photo: Copyright © Gozo Vision Studio

UKRAINE Igor Berezovskiy, Dmytro Kushnirov, Temur Partsvaniya, Iurii Putrash, Dmytro Korkishko (86′ Oleksii Babyr), Andriy Bogdanov, Serhiy Rybalka, Vitaliy Fedotov, Serhiy Kryvtsov (79′ Igor Plastun), Serhiy Lyulka, Dmytro Grechyshkin.
MALTA Steve Sultana, Matthew Gauci, Ryan Camenzuli (58′ Lydon Micallef), Luca Martinelli, Zach Muscat, Rowen Muscat (31′ Clyde Borg), Terence Vella (86′ Darren Falzon), Mark Scerri, Ryan Scicluna, Bjorn Kristensen, Yessous Camilleri.
Referee: Orel Grinfeld (ISR)