Hibernians Down Swieqi United With Quick Double

Hibernians will go into the international break in full song after beating Swieqi United by 2-1 at Dingli Ground, in a highly-absorbing encounter. Alexis Espitia and Martina Borg gave Hibernians a healthy lead by scoring within two minutes of each other. Salamatu Abdulai got a goal back for the Owls, but the team could not complete the comeback against a unified Hibernians effort.

Team Selections

As noted in the match preview comments from Swieqi United’s coach Saviour Darmanin, young goalkeeper Chanelle Borg started for the team between the sticks. In front of her, Tammy Falzon partnered Rafanny Abache Mendoza, while Jade Schembri and Jessica Dimech took the right-back and left-back roles respectively. Shona Zammit continued wearing the skipper’s arm band and maintained her partnership with Mariah Sciberras in the centre of the park. Kennedy Metzger made a return to the first eleven by slotting on the right wing, while Emma Xuereb started on the left. Salamatu Abdulai occupied the number ten role, behind Karima Abdulai.

Hibernians’ Keith Gouder opted for the experience of Sharon Costantino in goal. He continued to show faith in his defensive line of Chloe Ellul, Amy Busuttil, Natalee Geren and Alessia Cascetto. Similarly, Nicole Sciberras and Kayleigh Chetcuti were trusted to control the midfield, while captain Martina Borg was welcomed back in the number ten role after missing the encounter against Lija Athletic through injury. Alexis Espitia and Sarah Urpani continued to provide the width, while Leah Ayres was the central target.

Fast But Goalless

The referee’s whistle opened the match to a frenzy of highly physical and fast-paced football, as the teams went all out to get a footing in the match. Both teams were evidently under a lot of pressure but channeled it straight into the match.

Swieqi United used their pace to good effect to make inroads. Kennedy Metzger was bright on her return, skipping past three players out on the wing before looking to rope the rest of the team into play. However, it was Shona Zammit who first tested Sharon Costantino from distance, forcing the goalkeeper into parrying it for a corner. A few minutes later Emma Xuereb laid the ball out wide for Salamatu Abdulai who drifted out on the right wing. She made a run toward the box before pulling the trigger but the outswinging shot kept curling wide.

At this point, Saviour Darmanin started the first of many tweaks and swaps in the forward line, by exchanging Emma Xuereb and Kennedy Metzger on the wing. Metzger attempted to find Xuereb with a cross shortly after, but Sharon Costantino commanded the box and made it hers.

Having dealt with the initial wave of attacks for the first ten minutes, Hibernians started to gain a stronger footing in the match which breathed confidence into going forward. Hibernians’ forays into attack started drawing out mistakes in the Swieqi defence. A square pass almost landed the Owls in hot water with Sarah Urpani closing in on the ball, but Tammy Falzon did well to recover the situation.

The Paolites had an opportunity from a corner close to the quarter hour mark which Swieqi United quickly turned into a counter-attack that almost paid dividends. Karima Abdulai set off on the charge but Sharon Costantino was quickly off her line to meet her. The Owls got a bit of luck with the ball ricocheting straight off Abdulai back toward goal, but Natalee Geren kept up the chase and cleared the ball.

Swieqi United kept building attacks while Hibernians were happy to put in the challenges to stop them from getting toward the box, with Chloe Ellul going into the book for a late challenge on Abdulai. The Owls’ Jessica Dimech took charge of a number of free-kicks from the wing, but though the delivery was good, Hibernians’ defence stood strong. At the other end, Swieqi United were evidently shaky with a number of poor clearances, but Hibernians could not capitalise, sending the teams locked level in the break.

Half-Time Score: Swieqi United 0 – 0 Hibernians

Three Goals in Five Minutes

Although neither side made changes at the break, Saviour Darmanin put Kaysia Micallef into the field instead of Kennedy Metzger five minutes into the second half. The two sides had early opportunities. Hibernians had a free-kick out on the right wing which Swieqi United’s Jessica Dimech headed to safety, before Costantino was forced into a save at the other end.

With tensions running high, it was Alexis Espitia who kept the coolest of heads to break the deadlock in the fifty-third minute. Leah Ayres released the forward who made a dart inside from the wing, before nutmegging the goalkeeper with a low finish into the back of the net. Hibernians’ fans rose in celebration and were keen to rub salt in the wounds as the Owls attempted to get themselves motivated to go again.

Just two minutes later, Hibernians’ Martina Borg sent their supporters on their feet once more, with a sublime finish from distance, which found the top corner. Taking nothing away from the quality of the strike, Swieqi United will have been disappointed to have afforded her with the space they did.

A few from the Hibernians’ support broke into an almost half chant following the goal, but Salamatu Abdulai was quick to send tension back into the stands four minutes later. The Paolites were loose with the ball at the back, which Mariah Sciberras was keen to recover on the edge of the box. She immediately released it to Salamatu Abdulai who made the run on the right wing, before striking a cross-shot that sailed into the far top corner from the tightest of angles.

Having swung the momentum in their favour, Swieqi United almost got the draw just two minutes later. Kaysia Micallef got past her marker on the right wing before picking out Emma Xuereb who had made her way into the box, however the defence did enough to derail her from burying into the net. A few minutes later Micallef also released Salamatu Abdulai behind the defence but Costantino was keen to make it hers.

Hibs In Game Management Mode Against Swieqi Rotations

Saviour Darmanin looked to his bench once more close to the seventy-minute mark, bringing on Michaela Cachia in a like for like change with Mariah Sciberras. Meanwhile, Hibernians were not happy with the slender lead and were keen to disrupt the rhythm, by drawing a foul at any contact. More exchanges developed as Swieqi United attempted to get on with the match and grew frustrated with the tactics of the opposing team. Hibernians had an opportunity to bury the game with a corner and also as they flooded forward from open play, but Tammy Falzon made two crucial tackles to deny them.

Meanwhile, Swieqi United continued to create trouble at both ends. A miscommunication in the middle of the park allowed Hibernians to attack, but were lucky that Ayres’ finish was off target. At the other end, the team created attacking opportunities but were either denied by the resilient defence or wasteful in front of goal. A major chance developed when Emma Xuereb cut inside and switched play to Karima Abdulai. She ran free but Costantino made an expert save to deny her, even though the offside flag was raised shortly after.

As time wore on, Saviour Darmanin became more engaged in swapping his forward line, with Kaysia Micallef and Emma Xuereb and Karima Abdulai being heavily rotated out front. Shona Zammit fed Jessica Dimech with a well weighted pass after she got the shout from the full-back, but Dimech’s cross into the box was snuffed out by Hibernians’ defence.

Keith Gouder made one switch to bring on Nyorah Celeste instead of Leah Ayres, while Saviour Darmanin made one final change in bringing on Mandy Debono instead of Jade Schembri. Darmanin used the swap to switch to a back three and sent four out in attack to try to salvage the point. Though understanding the idea of going in the attack, unfortunately at times it appeared that the changes disrupted attacking momentum as players adjusted.

The game continued bubbling until the final moments with Swieqi United all out to get the draw, but could not manage to trouble the Paolites from a number of set-pieces. The Owls had one opportunity at the end when Chanelle Borg sent the team on the counter. Shona Zammit released Karima Abdulai but the Ghanaian was wasteful with the opportunity from the wing, going at it herself to the dismay of her teammates who had made the run up the field. Hibernians were happy to let the clock run out by taking the ball to the corner flag.

The full-time whistle sounded to celebration both on the pitch and off it. Kayleigh Chetcuti rushed toward Costantino engulfing the goalkeeper in delight whose experience mattered on the day, while Hibernians’ supporters broke out into song.

Full Time Score: Swieqi United 1 – 2 Hibernians

Venue & Next Matches

The match was still played in woefully dim lighting. The Sporting Fan understands that headway has been made to push for the upgrades to be handled. One hopes the necessary pressure is applied to have the situation fixed on the return following the international break. Additionally, throughout the match several players got caught in goal nets that were set up on the sidelines of the pitch, risking injury. One urges the matter to be addressed for upcoming fixtures.

The match concluded the Assikura Women’s League weekend, following the victory of Birkirkara over San Gwann which finished earlier in the day. The teams will now separate for the international break where Malta will be partaking in the UEFA Women’s Nations League.

Hibernians will want to bottle the feeling and use it as motivation as they next face defending champions Birkirkara at the Centenary Stadium on Friday 13th October at 18:00. Meanwhile, Swieqi United will regroup and hope to bounce back against Valletta, whom they will take on also on the 13th October, at 20:30 at the Centenary Stadium.

Lead Image: Lara Schembri

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