The Malta U-21 national team are still in search of their first win in the European Championship qualifiers following a 4-2 defeat to Turkey in Alanya yesterday.

This was the team’s sixth successive defeat in the competition but coach Silvio Vella will surely have been pleased with the team’s fighting performance against more-quoted opponents as they kept playing positive football throughout the match and their reward were two well-taken goals from Kyrian Nwoko that made the result more respectable.

The Turks were off to a storming start and they took just 12 minutes to nose ahead.

Melih Okutan released Ogulcan Caglayan who hit a thunderous drive that was deflected by Dunstan Vella past Malta goalkeeper Andreas Vella.

The Maltese were stunned and four minutes later the Turks added a second. It was another fine goal as Dorunkhan Okutan let fly a firm drive from outside the area that flew into the top corner.

The Turks kept their foot on the accelerator and the match looked as good as over on 20 minutes when Orkan Cinar’s shot came off the upright and in cam Deniz Hummet who stabbed the ball into an empty net.

The Maltese youngsters kept their heads up and they managed to pull a goal back on 28 minutes.

Jurgen Degabriele found Jake Grech on the edge of the area and the Malta skipper quickly switched the ball to Nwoko who slotted the ball past Turkish goalkeeper Altay Bayindir.

Turkey restored their three-goal lead ten minutes from half-time when Caglayan played in Cinar who, despite being at a close angle, slid the ball through the legs of Andreas Vella.

On the restart, the Maltese started brightly and three minutes into the second half they scored a second consolation goal.

Dorukhan Tokoz failed to cut out Degabriele’s throughball and Nwoko quickly rounded the goalkeeper before pushing the ball into an empty net.

From then on, Turkey opted to administer their advantage as they wrapped up their second win in the competition.