by Mgarr United held on to a 3 – 2 victory against Birkirkara in an open contest. The Greens’ Veronique Mifsud opened the scoring, but the Stripes equalised through Erica Bispo. Rebecca Bajada and Valeria Villegas Caly regained the lead for the Greens before the break. Mariah Cardona slashed the deficit but the Stripes could not complete the comeback. Despite earning the points, Mgarr United have further injury woes with Brenda Borg and Veronique Mifsud both forced off the pitch in the contest.
Team Selections
Patricia Ebejer continued her stay in goal for Mgarr United. Ryan Vella switched to a back four, with Yanina Mendez and Rebecca Bajada at its widths, while Abigail Camilleri returned to the starting eleven alongside Leanne Cefai. Amber Grech continued her stay in front of the defence, with Veronique Mifsud and captain Brenda Borg starting in her company. Valeria Villegas Caly led the attack, with Luz Hernandez and Alejandra Villegas Caly on her flanks.
Vince Galea made a change between the sticks, with Erika Muscat making her first start of the season. She was protected by an unchanged defence, with Charlene Zammit partnered by Valentina Rapa, while Lara May Azzopardi and Calista Schechinger started as full-backs. Viverly Nanez continued to partner Gabriella Zahra in midfield, while Luana Vitoria Cabral operated further forward. Mariah Cardona and captain Alishia Cassar occupied the flanks, while Erica Bispo continued leading the attack.
How It Unfolded
The trend of a dramatic afternoon that was kicked off by the encounter between Swieqi United and Hibernians continued in the worst possible way. This as Mgarr United skipper, Brenda Borg, hit the deck after just five minutes of play with the midfielder uncharacteristically staying down.
Despite lengthy assessment on the sideline, the midfielder came back onto the pitch before dropping again seconds later, unable to carry on. Ryan Vella was forced into his first change within the tenth minute. Yulya Carella came on in midfield in her stead, with Abigail Camilleri taking the captain’s duties.
However, as with any contest in the season, the show had to go on. In stark contrast to the first Top Four fixture of the day, the contest played out in an open manner, with both sides going at it at full pace unyielding in their pursuit.
Veronique Mifsud was keen on an early strike from a tight angle that lacked the curl to find the far corner. However, the Mgarr United number ten was on the money with a direct free-kick in the 14th minute that flew into the far corner of the net to hand the side the lead.
The Stripes knew that the only way was to fight back to get on level terms. Alishia Cassar was released into behind enemy lines out wide, but opted for the shot that swerved wider. Still, Cassar was hard at work winning the ball just outside the box on the half hour mark, before firing a deflected shot that landed at the feet of Erica Bispo. However, she too was wide of the far post.
However the side was rewarded for their efforts in the 32nd minute following a corner. Calista Schechinger targeted the near post, with Patricia Ebejer getting palms on the ball and diverting it into the crossbar, but Erica Bispo was most lively for the rebound to get Birkirkara level.
The open contest persisted with Mgarr United coming close to earning the lead once more just three minutes later. Yanina Mendez’s corner delivery was headed out into the path of Amber Grech. The number eighty-eight struck sweetly and with pace, but saw her effort clip the far left post.
However, the side did not have to wait for long, with Rebecca Bajada coming up with the goods just one minute later. The full-back sped on the right wing, before letting fly to find the far left post and send the Greens back into the lead in the 36th minute.
Having already had their lead snatched, the Greens sought to keep up pressure and find the comfort of a two-goal cushion. Erika Muscat denied Veronique Mifsud from another free-kick, before the young goalkeeper was quick off her line to snuff out an attempt to release Valeria Villegas Caly.
However, Mgarr United continued in their unrelenting high press on Birkirkara, winning the ball high up the pitch and flooding forward in numbers. The effort came to fruition in the 46th minute. Alejandra Villegas Caly won the ball up the right wing, before linking play with Valeria Villegas Caly who struck another successful effort to find the far left post for the third goal.
Birkirkara almost responded immediately with an attempt to get Alishia Cassar behind the line that was read by Abigail Camilleri. Patricia Ebejer was also called into action, punching out a delivery to send the Greens into the break with the comfort of a two-goal cushion.
Half-Time Score: Birkirkara 1 – 3 Mgarr United
Neither coach made changes at the break with Birkirkara coming into it with a lot more intensity in their play and a higher tempo in their possession. Referee Stefan Minic was keen on playing the advantage for the side as they broke. However, having built good play up the wing, an attempt to switch to Mariah Cardona was overcooked, letting the Greens off the hook.
Mgarr United struggled to regain the quality they had in possession in the opening half, but were managing to hold off pressure until the 56th minute. Alishia Cassar drove to the byline before delivering the cross. Mariah Cardona was well placed at the far post, heading it into the net to half the deficit.
Continuing with the mantra of attack as the best form of defence, Mgarr United drove forward with an attempt to release Luz Hernandez behind. However, Erika Muscat was off her line to nip the attack once more. Vince Galea decided to give his attack a different look, bringing on Amelia Vassallo instead of Gabriella Zahra just after the hour mark.
Despite holding the lead, the Greens’ afternoon continued in a bittersweet manner as Veronique Mifsud was next to hit the deck, with the midfielder also forced off. Ann-Marie Said took to the pitch in her stead, taking the left-back duties, while Yanina Mendez moved up the wing. Valeria Villegas Caly shifted to midfield, while Luz Hernandez occupied the centre of attack.
The contest ensued with Vince Galea deep into dishing out instructions attempting to direct his side back into level terms, while a subdued Ryan Vella looked on toward an unrecognisable midfield for his team. However, Amber Grech was hard at work, winning the ball and immediately looking up to play the pass to send the team back out on a forward drive.
Both teams were going at it at full throttle, with the officials letting play go on toward an open contest. However, tackles descended into a lack of discipline and tit-for-tat approach. The Greens managed to create some tension in the Stripes’ back line as the 70th minute expired, but Charlene Zammit and Calista Schechinger combined to clear their lines. Mgarr United also earned themselves a few free-kicks from midfield, with Ann-Marie Said changing up approaches in delivery, but the side could still not make them count.
Vince Galea made a double switch in the final ten minutes of the match, bringing on Stella Francalanza instead of Luana Vitoria Cabral, while Lara May Azzopardi gave way to Maia Gauci. The Stripes’ coach pushed his team up the pitch in an all-out attack stance to get try to get something from the match. Ryan Vella made one further late switch, bringing on Elisa Xuereb in a straight swap with Yanina Mendez.
Charlene Zammit’s luck looked to be out as she hit a last minute clearance against a surge from Mgarr United into the box, only for it to hit Valentina Rapa and ricochet into the path of Mgarr United’s strikers. However, Erika Muscat darted in to make the save on the next shot, before Charlene Zammit was already on the trot to block the next effort, despite the Greens’ appeals for a handsball in the mix.
Stefan Minic got some stick for booking Patricia Ebejer for time-wasting, but rarely dishing out a card for any of the harrowing tackles that played out in the match. Tensions continued to rise with time running out for Birkirkara who were throwing numbers forward against an Mgarr United team looking to secure a first victory against the Stripes.
The final moments of the match were characterised by a Birkirkara side throttled by Charlene Zammit, with the experienced defender continuing to lead the young team around her by example. At ninety minutes of play, the veteran was winning the ball in defence, playing combinations on the wing to support the attack and pushing to win possession when the side lost it, in sharp contrast to plenty of bystanding around her. However, it was to no avail, with Mgarr United holding on to the lead until the referee’s whistle.
Final Score: Birkirkara 2 – 3 Mgarr United
Standings & Next Matches
Mgarr United separate themselves from Birkirkara with the victory, taking their tally to 35 points to isolate themselves in third place, while Birkirkara remain fourth on 32 points.
The Greens will next face Swieqi United on Friday 7th February at the Charles Abela Stadium at 20:30, with the Owls coming into it holding first place, following a slender win against Hibernians earlier in the afternoon. On their part, Hibernians and Birkirkara will be battling it out on Thursday 6th at the Centenary Stadium, starting at 20:15.
Lead Image: Lara Schembri
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