The Malta Under-17 side lost 7-0 to Italy in a friendly match at Torre del Grifo, Catania. This was the first of two friendly matches for the team led by Sergio Soldano as part of the preparation ahead of the UEFA Under-17 Championship finals which will be held in Malta next May.

Inter’s Federico Dimarco put the hosts ahead on the 7th minute. Another Inter player Federico Bonazzoli doubled the score on the 19th and Dimarco scored a third one on the 31st. Bonazzoli made it 4-0 on the 35th and four minutes later, Fiorentina’s Simone Minelli added another. Milan’s Luca Vido scored twice in the second half on 56 and 64 minutes to seal the issue.

Italy could possibly be one of Malta’s opponents in May should they qualify from the Elite Round mini-tournament which includes England, the Czech Republic and Albania. Last year, Italy finished second in the UEFA Under-17 Championship, losing to Russia on penalties in the final.

Malta will be in action once again in another friendly match on Friday against the youths of Catania.