The Malta Under-17 national team lost twice to Cyprus in two friendly matches at the MFA Training Grounds on Sunday and Tuesday.

In the first match on Sunday, the Cypriots broke the deadlock on twenty minutes when Andreas Konstantinou was sent through the middle, beating Scicluna with an accurate grounder. 

Malta fought back and had the better of the Cypriots until the half-time whistle, with Keyon Ewurum hitting the post on 26 minutes. However, on 42 minutes, a direct free-kick by Andreou Panayiatis found the back of the net.

On the hour, Jake Scicluna brought Andreas Pirintzis down inside the area and Tzouliou converted from the penalty spot. 

MALTA Jake Scicluna, Shaun Carabott (Sasa Glumac 70), Jake Attard (Kewell Fardell 80), Nic Briffa, Lucas Okeke (Kean Scicluna 70), Aiden Zammit, Bradley Farrugia (Antiago De Flavia 85), Thomas Melillo (Jerome Baldacchino 85), Jake Azzopardi (Nexille Grech 85), Keyon Ewurum (Mike Hudson 73), Felippe Bugeja (Liam Delicata 70)

On Tuesday, Cyprus opened the score through a low Eyftymios Eyfthymiou effort and five minutes from the end of the first half, Achilleas Toumazos doubled the score.

Two minutes from time, Andreas Konstantinou scored a third goal for Cyprus to seal their win.

MALTA Niklas Vella, Kewell Fardell, Nic Briffa (Lucas Okeke 86), Kean Scicluna, Jake Attard (Shaun Carabott 58), Aiden Zammit, Jerome Baldacchino (Thomas Melillo 58), Bradley Farrugia (Lenny Mattocks 82), Jake Azzopardi (Nicholas Agius 82), Felippe Bugeja (Liam Delicata 58), Keyon Ewurum (Mike Hudson 86) 

Malta will be playing another two friendly matches later this month away from home against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Malta will then host the the UEFA Under-17 Championship qualifying group 4 in October, facing Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Czech Republic.