Malta fell to a 2-1 defeat against Latvia in the UEFA WU16 Development Tournament on Thursday, despite producing a spirited and attacking display in which they will feel unlucky not to have come away with the win.

Latvia started pressing the Maltese defence right away, and they took the lead after a minute, with an effort from Megija Krastiņa finding the net.

Malta did not let the early setback get to them, and they started to threaten, stringing together a number of passes and even trying their luck from distance, yet they failed to hit the target. However, they got their reward for their response in the 14th minute, as a quickly-taken corner found Amy Catania, who hit a nice curled finish past Felicita Leonora Feigina to equalise.

Latvia regained the lead in the 50th minute, when a through pass found Keita Zviedre, who went past Degiorgio, before tucking it into the empty net to make it 2-1.

Photo courtesy of Malta FA

Malta’s final match of the UEFA WU16 Development Tournament will be on Sunday 9th March at 13:30hrs, where they will be taking on Northern Ireland.

Malta Ezylana Degiorgio (GK), Amy Portelli (C), Amy Catania, Jade Galea (Krista Sacco 46’), Kesia Farrugia (Edeson Grixti 82’), Alanah Ghio (Sara Anneloes Shaladi 82’), Nina Lee Naudi, Erika Cini (Izabella Margaret Stringer 65’), Ana Mercieca (Amberley Borg 56’), Olivia Nazarko (Kay Axiak 56’), Shanaia Mifsud (Alessandra Consoli 46’).

Latvia Felicita Leonora Feigina, Adriāna Daniela Selušinska (Viktorija Savuškina 58’), Elizabete Dubinska, Anna Pereligina (Līva Strauta 75’), Ketrīna Vorslova (Aleksija Ralija Šnaidere 58’), Megija Krastiņa (Lote Aleksandrova 46’), Emīlija Ambaine, Laura Kaņupa Kanapeusa (Anna Artemjeva 46’), Alise Grigorjeva (Keita Zviedre 46’), Katrīna Kate Pētersone (Elīza Markvarte 75’), Anete Mirjama Gailīte (Jekaterina Haritonova 46’)