The national Under 18 football team of Moldova lost the first match played within the competition in memory of Valentin Granatkin held in Sankt Petersburg, Russia. The team trained by Ghenadie Pusca was defeated by the hosts by 1-4. 15 minutes before the end of the game, the score was 1-1, IPN reports.

The goal for Moldova was scored by the halfback of Sheriff Valeriu Macritski in the 32nd minute. For Russia, the goals were scored by Anisimov (24th minute), Sheidaev (74th), Frolov (83rd), and Panteleev (89th).

“Russia won a deserved victory. My team played well only during the first 75 minutes. Afterward, it yielded up physically,” Ghenadie Pusca said in a news conference after the game.

The national team plays the next match against Estonia on January 5. Group B also includes Slovenia.