The Malta Under-21 national team registered its second win in Group C of the UEFA Under-21 Championship qualifying round, defeating Northern Ireland 2-0 at the Mourneview Park in Lurgan on Tuesday.

A win which puts Gilbert Agius’ side on level points with the Irish, three ahead of Lithuania.

Agius made just one change from the team which lost 0-5 to Spain on Friday, handing Jamie Carbone a start and including Bradley Sciberras as a substitute.

The hosts received a major setback on the 33rd minute when they had Trai Hume sent off for kicking .

Malta managed to break the deadlock four minutes in the second half thanks to Marcus Grima who controlled an assist by Ayrton Attard and beat goalkeeper Liam Hughes with a fine shot from outside the area.

One minute from time, substitute Andrea Zammit doubled the score, slotting the ball past Hughes following a cross from the right by Jake Engerer.

N. IRELAND Liam Hughes, Trai Hume, Aaron Donnelly, Kofi Balmer, Finn Cousin-Dawson, Ethan Galbraith, Paul O’Neill (72′ Ryan Waie), Alfie McCalmont, Dale Taylor, Oisin Smyth (72′ Caolan Boyd-Munce), Patrick Lane (72′ John Mcgovern).

MALTA Cain Formosa, Christian Gauci (26′ Adam Bradshaw), Marcus Grima (62′ Gianluca Sciberras), Ayrton Attard, Andreas Vella, Alejandro Garzia, Jake Ghio (62′ Bradley Sciberras), Carlo Zammit Lonardelli, Matthew Ellul, Jake Engerer, Jamie Carbone (78′ Andrea Zammit).

Referee: Kári Á Høvdanum (FRO)
Assistant referees: Jan Hermansen, Jørleif Djurhuus (FRO)
Fourth official: Eiler Rasmussen (FRO)