The Malta Under-21 side lost 0-1 to Montenegro in a match from Group 1 of the UEFA Under-21 Championship at the Hibernians Stadium.
It was the first game on home soil for Silvio Vella’s side after collecting five points in a win and two draws in the five matches played away from home.
The visitors took the lead on the 18th minute when off a Vukan Savicevic corner from the left, Nemanja Kartal headed home past goalkeeper Calleja Cremona.
Malta’s only goal scoring opportunity occurred when a Cain Attard effort which was turned into a corner by the Montenegrin goalkeeper early in the second half. Montenegro, on the other hand, could have increased the lead mid-way through the second half with two attempts by Aleksandar Boljevic which scraped past the upright.
MALTA Matthew Calleja Cremona, Manuel Briffa, Sam Magri, Samir Arab, Ryan Camenzuli, Luke Montebello, Kyle Cesare (72′ Siraj Arab), Matthew Guillaumier, Joseph Mbong (82′ James Brincat), Llywelyn Cremona, Cain Attard.
MONTENEGRO Suad Licina, Ilija Tucevic, Boris Kopitovic, Nemanja Kartal, Aleksandar Boljevic, Marko Jankovic (87′ Mirnes Pepic), Nebojsa Kosovic, Dusan Lagator, Stanisa Mandic (73′ Veljko Batrovic), Vukan Savicevic (93′ Stefan Vico), Momcill Raspopovic.
Referee: Giorgi Kruashvili (GEO)