Malta U-21 beaten in Tunisia

Tunisia U-21 completed a double over Malta after they beat them 2-1 in a friendly at the El Menzah Olympic Stadium yesterday.

According to a MFA report, all three goals arrived during a balanced first half with midfielder Matthew Bartolo giving Malta a temporary lead after 26 minutes.

After the interval, Malta U-21 shared the exchanges with their opponents but for all their efforts they failed to score an equaliser despite creating some good chances.

This was the second meeting between the two teams this year. Last May, Mark Miller's team also lost 2-1 to the Tunisians in another warm-up match at Ta' Qali.

In the absence of competitive commitments for the U-21 team under the charge of Mark Miller, a series of friendlies are being arranged to keep the side in good shape and to serve as an opportunity for the coach to draft in new faces.

Women's football

Women's national team coach Pierre Brincat yesterday selected a squad of 18 players for the trip to Luxembourg where a UEFA Championship qualifying mini-tournament will be played.

The Maltese will play three matches - vs Lithuania (Saturday), Luxembourg (Monday) and Slovakia (tomorrow week).

The squad

Keepers: S. Costantino (Mosta), T. Dimech (Birkirkara).

Defenders: R. D'Agostino (Melita), M. Debono (Hibs), M. Deguara (Mosta), L.A. Galea (Hibs), N. Pace (Melita).

Midfielders: T. Agius (Hibs), M. Azzopardi (Hibs), J. Coates (Mosta), R. Gatt (Mosta), K. Lia (Mosta), K. Saliba (Hibs), D. Theuma (Hibs), D. Tonna (Hibs).

Forwards: Y. Carabott (Hibs), S. Caruana (Hibs), R. Chircop (Hibs).

U-17 Malta squad

Malta U-17 will play their first match from a UEFA mini-tournament here on Friday when they face Serbia at the Tedesco Stadium.

Malta play Italy on Sunday and Andorra today week, both matches at the Hibs Ground.

The squad

Keepers: D. Balzan, J. Caruana (both Hibs), M. Incorvaja (Sliema).

Defenders: O. Bugeja (Floriana), C. Camilleri (Pietà), A. Camilleri Kamsky (St Andrew's), T. Fleri Soler (Hibs), I. Grech (Mosta), J. Xerri (Hibs), P. Farrugia (Sliema).

Midfielders: K. Fenech (Birkir-kara), L. Grech (Hibs), S. Grech (Pietà), D. Grima (Valletta), C. MacKay (Pietà), M. Scerri (Sliema), C. Zammit (Birkirkara).

Forwards: N. Busuttil (Pietà), M. Calleja (St Andrew's), M. Ciantar (Sliema), R. Refalo (Hibs), M. Vella (Pietà).