Malta ended their commitments for 2015 with a 2-0 defeat to Jordan in a friendly match, played this evening at the Maltepe Stadiumi in Istanbul.

Hamza Al Daradreh opened the scoring for Jordan after 11 minutes.

Malta eventually began to share the exchanges and also produced a number of scoring chances in the second half but their hopes were dashed when Yassen Bakhit sealed the win for Jordan with a second goal deep into stoppage time.

Valletta midfielder Llywelyn Cremona, who made his Malta debut as a second-half substitute, went closest to leveling matters but his drive came off the post.

Malta coach Pietro Ghedin also handed a debut to Pembroke Athleta defender Owen Bugeja, who started the match, while Floriana duo Emanuel Briffa and Clyde Borg, together with Cremona, earned their first cap after coming on in the second half according to reports reaching us from Istanbul.

Captain Michael Mifsud, Ryan Camenzuli and Andre Schemer also entered the fray in the second half.

Today’s friendly came about following talks between MFA president Norman Darmanin Demajo and his Jordan FA president Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein who is standing for FIFA president.

Both Darmanin Demajo and Prince Ali were present for this evening’s game.

Ghedin started with the following formation: A. Hogg, S. Borg, J. Zerafa, G. Sciberras, A. Agius, P. Fenech, C. Failla, R. Briffa, O. Bugeja, B. Kristensen, A. Effiong.

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