The Malta Under-21 side lost 3-1 to Belgium at the Den Dreef in Leuven in a match from Group B of the UEFA Under-21 Championship qualifying round.

For Malta, this was the sixth defeat in as many matches although the team continued to show the improvement witnessed in recent outings.

The Maltese controlled their opponents well for most of the first half but conceded a first goal on the 40th minute as Romeo Vermant put the hosts ahead following an assist by Arne Engels. Jarne Steuckers doubled the score two minutes in the second half with a diagonal shot from the right.

Malta reduced the gap on the 62nd minute when Basil Tuma was brought down inside the area by Zeno Van Den Bosch and from the penalty spot, Andrea Zammit converted.

Substitute Kazeem Olaigbe sealed the issue with a third goal one minute in added time when he concluded a great run with a diagonal shot from the right which beat goalkeeper Hugo Sacco.

BELGIUM Maarten Vandevoordt, Hugo Siquet (63′ Killian Sardella), Jorne Spileers, Zeno Van Den Bosch, Arne Engels, Malick Fofana (63′ Kazeem Olaigbe), Mario Stroeykens, Romeo Vermant (71′ Youssuf Sylla), Eliot Matazo (63′ Julien Duranville), Jarne Steuckers (88′ Noah Mbamba), Tuur Rommens.

MALTA Hugo Sacco, Owen Spiteri, Jake Vassallo, Matthew Ellul, Dylan Scicluna, Andrea Zammit (80′ Jake Engerer), Alejandro Garzia (88′ Kurt Briffa), Nikolai Micallef (69′ Karl Mohnani), Gianluca Sciberras (88′ Matthew Debattista), Basil Tuma, Kurt Bondin (80′ Andy Borg).

Referee: Genc Nuza KOS
Assistant referees: Edmond Zeqiri, Granit Hyseni KOS
Fourth official: Mentor Ajeti KOS