Malta suffered a fifth defeat in as many matches in Group F of the UEFA Under-21 Championship qualifying round, losing 0-1 to Latvia at the Centenary Stadium on Tuesday.
For Latvia, this was the first win following a draw with Georgia last month.
Photo courtesy of Malta FA
The visitors created the better chances right fro the start with Strods having an angled shot from the right ending just wide on 5 minutes and three minutes later, Zaleiko just missed the target with a shot from outside the area. Goalkeeper Karl Sargent neutralised a Zaleiko effort from the right on 12 minutes and then managed to block a cross by Tihonovičs on 19 minutes. A Cēsnieks effort from outside the area turned into a corner by Sargent on 24 minutes.
Malta replied with a Shaisen Attard powerful drive which ended just over the bar on 26 minutes and on the half hour, Joshua Pitts tested the Latvian goalkeeper with a shot from the edge of the area. However six minutes from the end of the first half, Sargent came to the rescue once again turning into a corner a Lizunovs effort.
Twelve minutes in the second half, Joshua Pitts had a shot from the left blocked but three minutes later, Latvia scored the all-important goal when a corner by Zaleiko from the left was partially saved by the goalkeeper and Cesnieks scored from close range.
Substitute Keyon Ewurum went close to equalising on 71 minutes with a shot from outside the area, ending just over the bar.
To make matters worse for Malta, Benjamin Hili was sent off for Malta after a dangerous tackle on Bocs.
Malta Karl Sargent, Sven Xerri, Kean Scicluna, Shaisen Attard (64’ Keyon Ewurum), Lucas Caruana (82’ Sean Gatt), Basil Tuma, Jake Micallef, Jake Azzopardi, Daniel Letherby (23’ Jake Grech), Benjamin Hili, Joshua Pitts (64’ Nicholas James Agius).
Latvia Nikita Parfjonovs, Maksims Semesko, Kevins Cesnieks (70’ Ralfs Kragliks), Glebs Zaleiko, Danny Anisjko (46’ Roberts Bocs)(90+2’ Emils Evelons), Valerijs Lizunovs (70’ Kristians Mezsargs), Ivans Patrikejevs, Glebs Mihalcovs, Daniels Nosegbe-Susko, Milans Tihonovics, Markuss Strods.
Referee: Mehmet Türkmen TUR
Assistant referees: Anıl Usta, Bahtiyar Birinci TUR
Fourth official: Ali Yılmaz TUR