by Mgarr United enjoyed a strong attacking display to beat Lija Athletic by 6-0. Joelma Alves Gabriel made it successive hat-tricks for herself. Fernanda Peinado grabbed a brace, while Brenda Borg completed the scoring. Maia Debono and Yulya Carella were denied by the woodwork.
Team Selections
Lija Athletic’s Jethron Azzopardi opted for a five-player defence in front of goalkeeper Christiana Pisani. Rachel Mifsud started at the centre of the defence between Samira Bouzid and Amy Galea Gingell. Mariah Schembri and Daniela Camilleri protected their flanks. Nell Zarb Cousin returned from injury protecting the defence, with captain Simone Buttigieg. Elisa Xuereb and Edera Marmara provided the width, while Vanessa Honorio Carneiro led the line.
Mgarr United named an unchanged goalkeeping and defensive unit with Patricia Ebejer protected by Kelsey Vella, Anastasia Sivolobova, captain Maia Debono and Abigail Camilleri. Chantelle Grech started in midfield alongside Brenda Borg, while Joelma Alves Gabriel occupied the number ten role. Maria Mizzi was named on the left wing following good impact against Mtarfa, while Rebecca Bajada continued on the right. Fernanda Peinado was the lone attacker.
Greens Fire Themselves Into The Lead
Mgarr United looked to settle into a passing rhythm early on and did not take long to find their first opportunities. Rebecca Bajada headed wide following a cross from Abigail Camilleri which was helped on by Fernanda Peinado. Lija Athletic attempted to get themselves forward with a free-kick from the left wing. However, Mgarr’s defence was untroubled.
The Greens broke the deadlock in the 9th minute. Abigail Camilleri launched a direct ball to release Joelma Alves Gabriel who dinked it into the net. Maria Mizzi was the next to run free behind the defence, but her strike from the tight angle favoured Christiana Pisani, who was well positioned to collect.
Lija Athletic’s Vanessa Honorio Carneiro carried the ball forward in response, before spreading wide toward Elisa Xuereb. However, she was dispossessed by Rebecca Bajada.
The Greens dominated possession with good build-up, but Christiana Pisani was determined to keep her team in it by denying Brenda Borg and Fernanda Peinado from a number of well struck shots.
Despite this, Fernanda Peinado doubled Mgarr United’s lead just before the half-hour mark. The Brazilian stole possession in the final third, before powering past the defence and plcing low into the right side of the net.
Simone Buttigieg led by example, cajoling her team forward before feeding into Vanessa Honorio Carneiro. She found Elisa Xuereb out wide, whose curled cross was collected by a diving Patricia Ebejer.
Mgarr United returned fire through Rebecca Bajada, who was next to dive down the right, before crossing toward Fernanda Peinado. She knocked it for Brenda Borg, who struck a low venomous shot toward the left corner, but Christiana Pisani made a well-timed dive to collect.
The Greens’ centre-back pairing of Anastasia Sivolobova and Maia Debono were also unafraid to launch directly for the forwards to chase. However, Lija Athletic’s defence were getting the offside trap working well.
Jethron Azzopardi made an early substitution bringing on Shakira Bugeja in a direct swap with Amy Galea Gingell in the 37th minute. The Greens kept piling forward, with more good play down the right-wing. Although Christiana Pisani saved efforts from Brenda Borg and Fernanda Peinado, they found the third in the 40th minute. Brenda Borg fed to Joelma Alves Gabriel, who returned it with a well-weighted ball. Brenda Borg left footed the third into the roof of the net from six-yards.
Half-Time Score: Lija Athletic 0 – 3 Mgarr United
Mgarr United Extend Lead
The Greens’ Michael Mangion made one change at the break, bringing on Rodiana Borg in replacement of Kelsey Vella. Rebecca Bajada retreated into the right-back role, while Maria Mizzi swapped to the right forward role. Rodiana Borg slotted on the left-wing.
Despite being three goals down, Lija Athletic came out with a determination to get something going forward. They counter-attacked to good effect with Vanessa Honorio Carneiro releasing Edera Marmara’. She did well to keep the ball in play before cutting back toward Simone Buttigieg who joined the attack. However, Brenda Borg recovered possession to send her team back on the trot.
Samira Bouzid made an important interception to deal with a cross from Rodiana Borg. However, the Greens were on the charge for more and found the fourth in the 49th minute. Joelma Alves Gabriel’s overlapping run was picked out by Maria Mizzi. The Brazilian sped past the defence before firing home the fourth into the bottom left corner.
Maia Debono almost made it five just three minutes later but was denied by the post, following a free-kick delivery from Joelma Alves Gabriel. Abigail Camilleri was next to try her luck following a cross from Brenda Borg. However, her attempted volley flew wide of the mark.
Despite this, the Greens did not have to wait long as Joelma Alves Gabriel delivered the fifth goal to complete her hat-trick in the 55th minute. She rolled the ball into the net after receiving a square pass from Fernanda Peinado.
Lija Athletic kept up the interest with Elisa Xuereb and Mariah Schembri trying to get things going forward on the left wing, before Simone Buttigieg had a strike from distance. However, a deflection from the Mgarr United defence made for easy pickings for Patricia Ebejer. At the other end, Samira Bouzid kept up her defensive duties, intercepting a cross from Rodiana Borg toward Fernanda Peinado.
It was Bouzid’s last action of the night. She was replaced by Katryna Grech close to the hour mark. Grech slotted in the left side of the defence, pushing Mariah Schembri inside. Rohanne Zahra also made an appearance as the central striker, replacing Nell Zarb Cousin. The change resulted in Vanessa Honorio Carneiro retreating into midfield.
Michael Mangion also made more changes following an injury to Rebecca Bajada. Yulya Carella returned from injury on the right wing, while Leanne Cefai continued getting more minutes on the pitch following her own return. She slotted in the centre-back pairing with Maia Debono, while Anastasia Sivolobova drifted into the right-back role. Chantelle Grech made way, resulting in Maria Mizzi moving into the centre of the park.
The Greens were somewhat lucky with the sixth goal, which Fernanda Peinado finished in the 68th minute. Joelma Alves Gabriel’s attempt to release Yulya Carella behind was intercepted, but ricocheted into the path of Fernanda Peinado who made no mistake from close range.
Michael Mangion made his two final substitutions. There was a swap between the posts with Gabriella Grima taking to the pitch instead of Patricia Ebejer. Kelly Agius Pace replaced Fernanda Peinado up top. The striker almost found an immediate seventh after Rodiana Borg delivered a low cross, but the poor connection made for an easy catch for Christiana Pisani. The forward then almost teed up Joelma Alves Gabriel with a cross, but the Brazilian fired the header wide.
The Greens continued to try to get their forwards released behind the defence, with Yulya Carella, Brenda Borg and Kelly Agius Pace all timing runs, but Christiana Pisani kept up her sweeping display to deny them the opportunity to strike.
Yulya Carella was denied by the crossbar in the 79th minute following a header from a corner delivery. Lija Athletic reacted well to counter which was led by Rohanne Zahra. However, her attempt to switch play toward the supporting Elisa Xuereb was read by Maia Debono, who was determined to keep the clean sheet.
Lija Athletic had opportunities to deliver the ball into the box from free-kicks which Shakira Bugeja delivered deep. However, Gabriella Grima made sure to collect, denying them a consolation goal. Bugeja also delivered a corner which Maia Debono headed away before Leanne Cefai cleared the ball.
Final Score: Lija Athletic 0 – 6 Mgarr United
Standings & Next Matches
The victory takes Mgarr United to equal points with Hibernians at 26. However, the Paolites still have to meet Birkirkara in a direct confrontation on Saturday (Dingli Ground, 14:00), while Birkirkara also have another game in hand.
The Greens will watch the games unfold on Saturday as the top-of-the-table clash between Birkirkara and Hibernians, will be followed by Swieqi United against Valletta. The Greens will return on 5th January with a direct confrontation against the Owls who have 24 points but could bump themselves to 27 if they win against Valletta.
Meanwhile, the defeat means that Lija Athletic head into the Christmas break in 7th place with four points. They will return against 8th placed Mtarfa on the 6th of January, at Mgarr Ground (16:30).
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