The Malta Under-16 team went down 4-0 to Austria in the first of two friendly matches, played on Monday at the MFA Training Grounds.

Noel Turner’s boys coped well with Austria’s pressure in the opening minutes but Mario Polster’s brace handed Austria a 2-0 half-time lead.

Polster put the visitors ahead with a well-taken goal on 17 minutes and then doubled the score on 26 minutes, punishing some hesitant defending by Malta.

Five minutes from time, it was substitute Christian Hauptmann who scored the third goal with a low shot after a cross from the right.

On the stroke of time, another substitute, Bernard Zimmermann, rounded off a good Austria attack with Malta defender Kurt Buhagiar deflecting his shot past helpless goalkeeper Dylan Ciappara.

The second friendly will be played on Thursday afternoon at the MFA Training Grounds at 14.00.

MALTA: Matthias Debono (Dylan Ciappara 53′), Sheldon Mizzi (Kurt Galea 70′), Matthew Ellul, Ismael Borg (Gianluca Borg 70′), Glen Mifsud (Luke Musu 53′), Emerson Camilleri (Gianluca Sciberras 53′), Karl Mohnani, Jake Bone (Kurt Desira 53′), Jordan Kelly (Nikolai Farrugia Cross 61′), Jake Engerer, Mattia Veselji (Kurt Buhagiar 61′).

Referee: Alex Johnson (Malta)