The Malta Under-16 national team lost 1-5 to Austria in the first of two friendly matches at the MFA Training Grounds on Friday.

The visitors took the lead courtesy of Yasin Mankan on the 19th and a brace by Philip Verhounig on the 29th and 31st put them three goals ahead. Jake Azzopardi pulled one back for Malta on the 55th but on the hour, Verhounig restored the comfortable lead with Johan Zivkovic adding another on the 64th.

The two teams will be meeting in another friendly match on Monday.

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MALTA Niklas Vella, Peter Ohaka (Kewell Fardell 57), Shaun Carabott (Sasa Glumac 69, Jack Micallef 80), Kayden Farrugia, Nic Briffa, Kean Scicluna, Benjamin Cassar (Lenny Mattocks 57), Jake Azzopardi (Nexille Grech 80), Liam Delicata (Bradley Farrugia 69), Felippe Bugeja (Mike Hudson 57), Keyon Ewurum.

AUSTRIA Elias Lorenz, Jannik Schuster, Marijan Oesterreicher, Jakob Brunnhofer, Oliver Lukic, Leon Lalic, Jovan Zivkovic, Alexander Murauer (Jakob Brandtner 69), Jovan Zivkovic, Yasin Mankan, Nikolaus Wurmbrand, Philip Verhounig.

Referee: Reuben Spiteri