After holding Moldova in a goalless draw in Chisinau, the Malta Under-21 side, led by Silvio Vella, registered an impressive 2-1 win over Latvia at the Stadions Daugava in Liepaja in another match from Group 1 of the UEFA Under-21 Championship qualifying round.

The two teams shared the exchanges for most of the first half but two minutes from half-time, the hosts managed to take the lead thanks to a goal by Ingars Stuglis.

Ten minutes in the second half, Ryan Camenzuli levelled matters for Malta. On the 76th, Latvia could have retaken the lead as Tidenbergs was brought down inside the area by Cain Attard. However Reinis Flaksis’s effort from the penalty spot was neutralised by Jurgen Borg. The hosts paid dearly for this missed opportunity as two minutes later, Luke Montebello notched the winner for Malta.

Malta will be in action once again in September with two games away from home against the Czech Republic and Montenegro before travelling to Belgium in October. Malta then hosts Montenegro and the Czech Republic in March 2016, Belgium in September 2016, Latvia and Moldova in October 2016.

LATVIA Vladislavs Kurakins, Antons Tumanovs, Antonijs Černomordijs, Reinis Flaksis, Dāvis Ikaunieks (69′ Ņikita Ivanovs), Ingars Stuglis (77′ Andris Krušatins), Vladislavs Gutkovskis, Eduards Tīdenbergs, Endijs Šlampe, Ilja Šadčins, Andrejs Kiriļins (81′ Kaspars Svarups).

MALTA Jurgen Borg, Emanuel Briffa, Samir Arab, Daniel Zerafa, Ryan Camenzuli, Luke Montebello, Brandon Muscat, Kyle Cesare (86′ Terence Agius), Matthew Guillaumier, Llywelyn Cremoa, Cain Attard.

Referee: Jens Maae (DEN)