Spirited U-21s undone by stoppage-time goal

The Malta U-21 team suffered a heartbreaking defeat in a UEFA Championship Group Two qualifier as substitute Matej Podlogar struck in the fourth minute of stoppage time to earn Slovenia a hard-fought 2-1 win in Lendava yesterday.

It was a cruel blow for the brave Maltese players who seemed to have done enough to gain a point against the Group 2 leaders when Terence Vella cancelled out Dejan Lazarevic's first-half opener.

However, the Slovenians kept pushing more men forward and their efforts were rewarded with Podlogar’s late winner which lifted his team three points clear at the top.

Malta have five points but yesterday’s spirited display should fill the players with renewed optimism ahead of another tough qualifier away to Sweden on Wednesday.

As expected, Slovenia pressed forward from the outset and Malta goalkeeper Steve Sultana did well to keep out efforts from Rajko Rep and Dejan Lazarevic in the opening 12 minutes.

Malta’s first attempt on goal arrived on 29 minutes when Jonathan Bajada forced a good save from Slovenia keeper Jan Oblak.

Slovenia broke the stalemate three minutes later when Rep’s shot was blocked by the Malta defence but Lazarevic was on hand to fire home from the rebound.

Malta’s response arrived three minutes from the break when Vella’s shot was repelled by the Slovenian defence.

Seven minutes into the second half, Malta U-21 coach Ray Farrugia effected his first substitution, sending on Leighton Grech for Bajada in a bid to boost his team’s attacking charge.

Malta were now putting more pressure on the hosts and on 58 minutes, Ryan Scicluna saw his effort blocked.

Farrugia's boys equalised 13 minutes from time when Vella directed his shot past Oblak.

The Slovenians stepped up their efforts in search of a winner.

Sultana seemed to have saved a point for Malta when pushing away Lazarevic’s effort a minute from time.

However, in stoppage time, Podlogar broke Malta's resistance to hand Slovenia a vital win.