Malta go down 5-0 in Ireland

Malta's women national team are still in search of their first points in the UEFA Championship qualifiers.

On Friday night, Pierre Brincat's girls suffered a 5-0 defeat at the hands of Group Five leaders Ireland at the Dalymount Park Stadium in Dublin.

Having conceded a heavy 9-0 defeat in the corresponding first-round fixture at the National Stadium, the Maltese were determined to earn a more respectable result in their away match against the Irish.

Ireland again turned out to be tough opponents, gaining a two-goal advantage by the end of the opening half.

Seven minutes after the restart, they scored their third from the penalty spot.

Malta's hopes of stopping their opponents from notching more goals were shattered when Ireland scored twice in the last 12 minutes to gain a 5-0 victory.

After this victory, Ireland have strengthened their top spot in Group Five with 18 points... four ahead of second-placed Romania who, however, have two games in hand.

Malta, bottom of the group with no points from seven matches, host Bosnia and Herzegovina on September 5.