European Under-21 Qualifiers: Northern Ireland suffer 4-1 defeat by Malta
- Published
Ethan Galbraith captained Northern Ireland Under-21s against Malta
Northern Ireland suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat away to Malta in their opening European Under-21 qualifying game.
Jake Engerer gave Malta a 24th-minute lead and Matthia Veselji scored the second 12 minutes later.
Veselji grabbed his second with a penalty five minutes before half-time after he had been brought down by Sam McClelland at the Centenary Stadium.
Substitute Patrick Lane pulled one back with a superb strike but Ayrton Attard fired into the top corner late on.
The match was new manager John Schofield's first in charge but not a result he will remember with fondness.
Schofield replaced Andy Crosby as manager in August.
NI made a bright start, Ryan Waide going close, before Engerer broke the deadlock.
After Veselji's double, Schofield made three substitutions at the break, Patrick Lane, Oisin Smyth and Kyle McClelland all being introduced.
Fleetwood Town player Lane made an immediate impact, pulling a goal back on 58 minutes and then having another effort saved. Captain Ethan Galbriath also had a long-range effort saved.
Hibernians forward Attard made the points safe for the hosts with an unstoppable shot into the top corner six minutes from time.
Northern Ireland's next game is against Slovakia at Mourneview Park on Tuesday, with Spain, Russia and Lithuania the other nations in their qualifying group.