Malta Amateurs beaten by Split, Belgrade in UEFA Regions Cup

The Malta Amateur national team ended empty-handed in Group 8 of the UEFA Regions Cup Intermediate Round mini-tournament after losing 1-2 to Split Region of Croatia and 0-3 to Belgrade of Serbia.

Ukrainian side Ivano-Frankivsk withdrew from the tournament.

In the first match on Wednesday, Pjero Skaric put Split ahead after just seven minutes and four minutes from the end of the first half, Leo Andric doubled the score. Andre Joe Cutajar converted a penalty to reduce the gap for Malta on the 65th.

Malta line-up as follows: Jonathan Grech, Gianluca Bugeja, Dylan Micallef, Andrea Azzopardi (85′ Thomas Giles), Daniel Sant, Josuel Spiteri, Shalon Diacono (81′ Ian Montanaro), Samuel Buhagiar, Saturday Nanapere (46′ Josmar Galea), Nicholas Schembri (46′ Damon Hili), Andre Joe Cutajar.

Following the 1-1 draw between Split Region and Belgrade, the latter had to win with a bigger score to claim the tournament.

Following a goalless first half, Saric put Belgrade ahead on the 50th. Gavrilovic doubled the score on the 62nd and Vukovic converted a penalty on the 71st to seal the issue.

Coach Alfred Attard named the following line-up: Jonathan Grech (83′ Leon Seisun), Gianluca Bugeja, Dylan Micallef, Andrea Azzopardi (76′ Ismael Colombo), Josuel Spiteri (65′ Thomas Giles), Shalon Diacono, Samuel Buhagiar, Nicholas Schembri (65′ Saturday Nanapere), Andre Joe Cutajar, Josmar Galea (65′ Damon Hili).