Malta met Armenia in the first of two friendly matches at the National Sport School in Pembroke on Thursday.
Armenia were the better team on the day, winning 10-1. They enjoyed the better start, taking a 2-0 lead with goals from Garegin Mashumyan, who scored with a low drive, and Henrique Costa Da Silva who beat Brandon Debono with a delightful back-heel effort from close range. Firas Aboulezz, making his futsal debut for Malta, narrowed the deficit, finishing off a solo move with a fine shot. Midway through the first half, Jovica Milijic diverted the ball into his own net in an attempt to clear the danger. Victor Martins De Souza then poked home from close range at the end of a flowing move by the Armenians to make it 4-1. In the second half, Kelson Vincius de campos scored a hat-trick for Armenia with David Aslanian, Sargis Margaryan and Andranik Karapetyan adding the other goals. The second friendly match will be played on Friday at 20.00hrs at the National Sport School. MALTAStarting V: Brandon Debono, Karl Sciortino, Carl Azzopardi, Giancarlo Sammut, Mark Zammit.Substitutes: Clint Mifsud, Jovica Milijic, Andre Ciancio, Firas Aboulezz, Armando Gjepali, Aaron Montebello, Neil Cauchi, Aidan Micallef. ARMENIAStarting V: Sarkis Askadjian, Sarò Galstyan, Victor Martins De Souza, Garegin Mashumyan, Kelson Vincius De Campos.Substitutes: Eder De Souza Oliveira, Hakor Uzunyan, Sargis Nasiryan, Gamlet Manukian, Sargis Margaryan, Henrique Costa Da Silva, Andranik Karapetyan, David Aslanian, Mamikon Voskanyan. Referees: Clint Cassar, Jonathan Mallia, Peter Abela.Time Keeper: Raymond Tabone.