The Malta U-21 national team suffered a 1-0 defeat to Cyprus in a friendly international at the GPS Stadium in Nicosia yesterday.
Cyprus scored the all-important goal in the first half when Andreas Alkiviadous hit the net on 32 minutes.
Malta coach Edwin Camilleri fielded a makeshift team in Cyprus as several regular players were forced to miss the trip either due to injury or work commitments.
This was the second meeting between the two countries this year. Last May, Malta and Cyprus cancelled each other in a goalless draw at the National Stadium.
For Malta U-21 this was their 10th defeat in their last 11 matches. More worryingly is the fact that in this negative sequence the team failed to find the net.
The last goals scored by the U-21s came on August 2009 when in another friendly they beat Albania 2-1 away, courtesy of Warren Grech (penalty) and Tyrone Farrugia.
Other U-21 friendlies
Italy vs Turkey 2-1; Greece vs Norway 1-0; Czech Rep. vs Ukraine 2-1; Hungary vs Slovakia 0-0; Denmark vs Holland 1-3; Scotland vs N. Ireland 3-1; Wales vs Austria 1-0.