Local fans were able to savour a rare high for Maltese football in the last two days after the national U-21 team followed up their goalless draw in Finland with a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Lithuania in their second Group Two qualifier on Tuesday.

Four points from the first two competitive games is arguably an unprecedented record for a national selection at any level, a feat that takes on added gloss when one considers that both matches were played in foreign territory.

Malta U-21 coach Ray Farrugia acknowledged that his players deserve all the praise coming their way but he promptly turned his attentions to the preparations for the next qualifier, at home to Slovenia on September 1.

“I will repeat what I said after the match,” Farrugia said yesterday.

“If we can’t train together for the next two months, we’ll risk spoiling most of the good work we’ve done so far.

“The players will have a few weeks off but my plan is to resume training next month in order to step up our preparations for the next qualifiers, starting with the very tough match against Slovenia.

“I hope everyone co-operates so that we continue to work together to build on our performances in Finland and Lithuania.”

Although Farrugia is already looking ahead to the next qualifiers, he’s only too happy to let his players enjoy their excellent win over Lithuania which materialised thanks to second-half goals from Terence Vella, from a penalty, and captain Rowen Muscat.

“The challenge for us is to stay focused and prepare well for the next qualifiers,” the affable Far-rugia said.

“We’ve already spoken about this but the players deserve to relax for a few days and savour this special moment.

“They are on cloud nine and I’m very happy for them because they deserve it.”

In his first meeting with the media prior to the home friendly against Montenegro (1-1), Farrugia spoke of his determination to instil a positive, winning mentality among his players.

The team’s bright start to the U-21 Championship qualifying cam-paign has gone some way towards rewarding Farrugia’s efforts as well as repaying the Malta FA’s faith in a coach who had already steered the U-21s to a spate of positive results in a previous four-year spell.

Although Farrugia had always craved a return to a national coaching post, he admitted that he had second thoughts about going back as U-21 coach.

“Before the Montenegro friendly, I told reporters that I felt like coming home when I decided to take over as U-21 coach,” Farrugia said.

“I must admit that, at first, I was reluctant to take the job but (Malta Football Association president) Norman Darmanin Demajo and Bjorn Vassallo (CEO) convinced me to return. The trust they showed in me was key to my decision to accept this role.

“These are still early days but I’m happy here. The U-21 squad is like one big happy family.”

Farrugia is looking forward to having players like Sliema captain Mark Scerri, who has now served his two-match suspension, and Hibs striker Jean Paul Farrugia back in the squad.

He also made it a point to mention those players who failed to make the cut for these two games.

“There’s a great team spirit in the U-21 squad,” Farrugia said.

“Those players who did not make the trip for these games sent us messages of congratulations.

“They told us they were confident we would do well be-cause they knew that we prepared very seriously.

“In the last three weeks, we trained every day and that says everything about the attitude of these players. The door to the U-21 squad is open to all those promising players who are willing to improve and represent their country with pride.”

Rowen Muscat, the Malta U-21 captain, said the players are happy and proud after two positive group results in a row.

“All the players in the squad are very satisfied with what we have achieved,” Muscat said.

“A draw in Finland and an away win over Lithunia is no joke... we’ve been told it’s a record for Maltese football but it’s important that we don’t get carried away.

“This was a stepping stone for us but I believe that we have made an important step forward. We’re already looking ahead to the next qualifiers.”

The Birkirkara starlet pointed at the unity in the squad as the main reason behind their brilliant results under Farrugia.

“The coach really puts a strong emphasis on team spirit and unity,” he said.

“He really makes a great effort to foster a friendly, upbeat atmos-phere in the dressing room and that has really made a big difference for us.”