by San Gwann converted their maiden victory over Valletta with a 4 – 0 score yesterday. Rabab Mhalli fired home a hat-trick, with the scoring completed by Hailey Russell. The victory will certainly have been made sweeter by completely shutting out the Citizens for the first time as well.
Team Selections
Valletta’s Gabriella Grima started between the posts, protected by a back-five of Eunice Micallef, Sabrin Blihi and Megan La Rosa, with captain Anna Aloisio and Alicia Mifsud on the flanks. Ylenia Grech accompanied Monique Sultana in the centre of the pitch, while Suzanne Farrugia Sacco and Sarah Fenech operated out wide. Rodianne Zerafa led the attack.
Meanwhile, San Gwann’s goal was guarded by Justyne Caruana. Naomi Blundell and Kirstie Vella started as full-backs, with Jeanelle Falzon and Nanako Kobayashi continuing their partnership in the centre of the defence. Martina Schembri operated in front of the defence, with captain Annabelle Rapa and Fatma Al Girbi for company in midfield. Hailey Russell led the attack, flanked by Chaimaa Tourki and Rabab Mhalli.
How It Unfolded
The weight of the three points were evident from the start, with the two sides grappling for early control. However, neither were able to convert from corners. San Gwann threatened with a counter-attack led by Hailey Russell, who squared it to Chaimaa Tourki in support. However, Valletta recovered in time to thwart the shot.
San Gwann operated a narrow structure, with Valletta’s back five mirroring it in defence, leaving plenty of space out wide. On the other hand, Valletta were more keen on utilising Sarah Fenech and Suzanne Farrugia Sacco on the flanks to drive forward. However, the match lacked any real threatening shots from open play early on, with tension appearing on the touchline as both coaches attempted to get their messages across.
However, San Gwann snatched the lead with a direct approach. Chaimaa Tourki dinked a ball for Rabab Mhalli who darted inside and snuck between the central defenders to get into the box. Bringing it under control swiftly, the Moroccan placed into the right corner of the goal for the opener in the 24th minute.
The side did not have to wait long to double their lead, with the recipe working just as nicely four minutes later. This time Mhalli was assisted by Hailey Russell, while the shot was rifled into the left side of the post.
San Gwann were not keen on letting Valletta have any breathing room and kept pushing toward an even healthier lead. Hailey Russell powered her way through the centre of the pitch, before making space for the shot from just outside the box. She converted with a low strike into the bottom left corner in the 32nd minute to make it three for San Gwann.
Seeing the result slipping away, Jean Lopes made an early call for a more offensive change, in the 40th minute. Sarah Fenech gave way to debutant Oriane Le Gouez, with the French player slotting up front alongside Rodianne Zerafa.
However, San Gwann’s train kept going with the same attack build-up delivering to perfection once more for Rabab Mhalli to complete the fourth and finish off her hat-trick in the 42nd minute with a curled effort into the top right post.
Half-Time Score: Valletta 0 – 4 San Gwann
There were no changes at the break from either side, with San Gwann looking to get an early restart from a free-kick. Chaimaa Tourki aimed to get it up and down over the wall into the right corner, but was just wide with the finish. Hailey Russell followed up with a long-range effort shortly after, but Gabriella Grima just got fingertips on it to help it over the bar, with Valletta seeing out the resulting corner.
Valletta’s Jean Lopes made two further changes in the 53rd minute, bringing on debutants Lilou Lucas and Lucie Lucas in the centre of the pitch. The duo replaced Alicia Mifsud and Monique Sultana.Lilou Lucas was quick to pick out Anna Aloisio’s forward run shortly into her appearance, but the finish was wide of the post.
Leona Carabott debuted shortly after the hour mark, replacing Eunice Micallef. Carabott slotted on the left wing, with Anna Aloisio shifting inward in defence.
Valletta fashioned a good opportunity with Leona Carabott feeding Rodianne Zerafa, who spread it wide to Oriane Le Gouez. She darted inside before crossing into the box. However, found Nanako Kobayashi ready to clear. Despite Valletta pushing further up and gaining more control of the ball following the introductions, San Gwann’s defence appeared mostly in control of the attacks.
Meanwhile, San Gwann’s Julian Camilleri responded with his first change shortly after with a swap in midfield between Martina Schembri and Nilayza Attard. Thais Muscat and Kirsty Paris appeared in replacement of Fatma Al Girbi and Rabab Mhalli just after the 70th minute mark, before Shania Gheiti gave Hailey Russell an early rest in the 73rd minute.
The Citizens looked to push for a consolation goal, with Lucie Lucas working Justyne Caruana from distance. However, the San Gwann keeper was nifty with her footwork to get a palm on the ball to keep it out. Oriane Le Gouez almost capitalised on some miscommunication at the back from San Gwann late on, but her shot was also dealt with by San Gwann’s goalkeeper. However, the Citizens too often defaulted easily to wayward strikes from distance and individualistic runs at times, which further allowed San Gwann to head toward an unblemished maiden victory over their rivals.
Final Score: Valletta 0 – 4 San Gwann
Standings & Next Matches
The victory enables San Gwann to head into the final phase of the league in fifth, with a five point gap to Valletta. The order for the final phase was released yesterday evening, with confirmation that the league will resume in the upcoming week.
The two teams will kickstart their final stint with Valletta facing the shortest turnaround as they are scheduled to meet Lija Athletic on Thursday 16th January at the Centenary Stadium at 20:15. San Gwann are due to meet Mtarfa on Friday (17th) at the Charles Abela Stadium at 20:30. Lija Athletic and Mtarfa will head into the matches following forfeiting matches to Hibernians and Birkirkara, with Mtarfa abandoning the match half way through their fixture on Saturday.
Lead Images: Lara Schembri
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