Marsaxlokk face an uphill battle to keep their UEFA Conference League hopes alive after suffering a 3-0 defeat to Armenian side Pyunik in the first leg of their opening qualifying round tie at the Centenary Stadium on Thursday evening.

The Maltese side produced a disciplined display for much of the opening half and looked capable of frustrating their more experienced opponents. However, a penalty four minutes before the interval changed the complexion of the match before Pyunik took complete control after the restart.

The visitors enjoyed more of the possession in the early stages, but Marsaxlokk defended resolutely and limited Pyunik to few clear-cut opportunities while looking to threaten on the counterattack.

The breakthrough eventually arrived in the 41st minute when the Armenian side were awarded a penalty following a foul inside the area. Momo Yansané kept his composure from the spot, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way to hand Pyunik a crucial lead before halftime.

Any hopes of a Marsaxlokk response after the interval were dealt a major blow just six minutes into the second half.

Experienced midfielder Artak Dashyan doubled the visitors’ advantage with a well-taken finish, leaving the Maltese side chasing the game.

Pyunik effectively put the tie beyond Marsaxlokk’s reach on 65 minutes when defender Mikhail Kovalenko added a third goal, giving the Armenian outfit a commanding advantage to take into next week’s second leg in Yerevan.

Despite the setback, Marsaxlokk continued to battle until the final whistle but were unable to find a way past the organised Pyunik defence, with the visitors comfortably seeing out the closing stages to record an important away victory.

The result leaves Enzo Potenza’s side needing a major turnaround in Armenia if they are to progress to the second qualifying round, while Pyunik travel home firmly in control of the tie after a clinical performance.