Two goals in the last six minutes of the match condemned Malta to a 2-0 defeat to Georgia at Meskhi Stadium.

It was a harsh result for the Maltese who put up a solid performance only to be undone by two late goals, the first of which highly controversial.

As expected it was Georgia who made all the running and on 12 minutes Levan Mchedlidze teed up Tornike Okriashvili who was well anticipated by Jonathan Caruana.

Two minutes later Orniashvili set up Mchelidze whose shot was easily blocked by Justin Haber.

It was the hosts who came closest to an opener on 17 minutes when Okriashvili hit a firm drive from the edge of the area but Haber was alert to push the ball over the bar.

The Georgians continued to boss proceedings but for all their possession they were rarely dangerous.

On 32 minutes, Kaki Makharadze nodded the ball into the path of Giorgi Chanturia whose low drive flashed just wide while a minute before the interval Okriashvili’s effort was well neutralised by Haber.

The Georgians maintained the initiative and on 56 minutes they were unlucky not to take the lead when Okriashvili entered into the area but his curling drive came off the bar with Haber beaten.

Ghedin looked to give more punch to his team attack when on the hour he withdrew Jean Paul Farrugia and brought on Effiong.

On 78 minutes, Effiong was unlucky not to mark his debut with the winner when the Qormi striker was put clear by Steve Borg but was unlucky to see his low drive coming off the upright.

That miss proved costly for Malta as Georgia grabbed the winner in highly controversial circumstances seven minutes from time.

From a free-kick action, Laba Kankava was first to Kenia’s cross and the Georgian midfielder looked to have deviated the ball past Haber with his arm but the referee Alexander Anufrijevs waved away Malta’s protests and awarded the goal.

Malta were rattled and substitute Valeri Kazaishvili burst into the area and hit a low drive that gave no chance to Haber.