Malta's U-21 team slumped to their fifth defeat in as many matches after losing 1-0 to Slovenia in a 2011 UEFA U-21 Championship Group Eight qualifier in Nova Gorica yesterday.

A Leon Crncic goal three minutes into the second half earned the Slovenians their second win in the group and left Malta still looking for their first point.

The hosts dominated the first half. Vito Plut threatened to put Slovenia in front after just nine minutes but Malta goalkeeper Henry Bonello pulled off a fine save in a one-on-one situation.

Midway through the half, Tim Matavz fired over and, on another occasion, the same player delivered a free-kick which caused a goalmouth scramble in the box. Boris Mijatovic hit wide via a deflection.

Slovenia scored what proved to be the winning goal three minutes after the restart. Crncic, a half-time replacement for Plut, collected Rene Mihelic's excellent pass and finished in style.

Bonello then denied Matavz but Malta made a good reaction. Tyrone Farrugia headed wide from a corner and Richard Chetcuti narrowly missed the target with another shot.

Malta, who have yet to find the net in this qualifying trek, ended the match with 10 men after Joseph Zerafa was red-carded a minute from the end for a second bookable offence.

Malta's next qualifier, away to Belgium, is scheduled for March 3.

Malta: H. Bonello, B. Muscat, J. Zerafa, S. Borg, R. Camilleri, T. Farrugia, T. Vella ('78 K. Micallef), M. Scerri, J. Galea, M. Ciantar ('52 C. Gatt Baldacchino), R. Chetcuti.

UEFA U-21 results

Group Three: Hungary vs Italy 2-0.

Group Four: Spain vs Finland 1-0; Netherlands vs Liechtenstein 3-0.

Group Five: San Marino vs Iceland 0-6; N. Ireland vs Germany 1-1.

Group Eight: Slovenia vs Malta 1-0; Belgium vs Ukraine 0-2.

Group Nine: Lithuania vs Macedonia 1-0.

Group Ten: Albania vs Austria 2-2.