Malta go down to N. Ireland

Playing the first of two friendly U-17 matches against Northern Ireland at the Ta' Qali training grounds yesterday evening, Malta lost 2-0. They trailed 1-0 at half-time after Owen Bugeja netted an own goal in the 37th minute. Exchanges were balanced...

Playing the first of two friendly U-17 matches against Northern Ireland at the Ta' Qali training grounds yesterday evening, Malta lost 2-0.

They trailed 1-0 at half-time after Owen Bugeja netted an own goal in the 37th minute.

Exchanges were balanced after ends were changed, but Matthew Ferris rounded up the score with a second goal scored in the 58th minute.

The Malta U-17 team, under coach Oliver Spiteri, are to play the second match tomorrow at the same venue with a kick-off time at 6 p.m.

These two friendlies are in preparation for the forthcoming mini-tournament valid for the European U-17 Championship 2007 to be played in Malta between November 17 and 22.

The other teams in Malta's U-17 group are Andorra, Italy and Serbia.

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