Malta lost 2-0 to Jordan in a friendly match at the Maltepe Stadium in Istanbul on Wednesday.

Coach Pietro Ghedin named Owen Bugeja in the starting line-up with Gareth Sciberras also making his return in the first eleven. Andrew Hogg started in goal with Steve Borg, Andrei Agius and Owen Bugeja as the three central defenders, Joseph Zerafa and Clayton Failla on the flanks, Paul Fenech, Bjorn Kristensen and Gareth Sciberras in midfield with Roderick Briffa supporting Alfred Effiong.

Apart from Bugeja, Emanuel Briffa, Clyde Borg and Llywelyn Cremona also made their full international debut when they were included as substitutes.

Hamza Aldaradreh put Jordan ahead on the 25th and Yaseen Al-Bakhit doubled the score on the 90th.

Before Jordan’s second goal, Malta could have equalised but Llywelyn Cremona was unlucky to hit the woodwork with a shot from outside the area on the 68th.

>Present for the game was Jordanian FA president Prince Ali bin Hussein who is one of the candidates running for the post of FIFA President, who was also nominated by the Malta Football Association.

MALTA Andrew Hogg, Steve Borg, Joseph Zerafa (81′ Emanuel Briffa), Gareth Sciberras (87′ Clyde Borg), Andrei Agius, Paul Fenech (64′ Llywelyn Cremona), Clayton Failla (58′ Ryan Camenzuli), Roderick Briffa (54′ Michael Mifsud), Owen Bugeja, Bjorn Kristensen (71′ Andre Schembri), Alfred Effiong.