by Tuesday night served Mtarfa FC another defeat, this time at the hands of Hibs who scored seven without reply. This was the first game of the Assikura Women’s League following the International Break in which Malta won their two friendlies against Luxembourg. The win for Hibs means that they have done the double over Mtarfa after the whites had won the previous encounter by ten goals to nil.
A Strong First Half from Hibs
The whites started the game on the front foot, bossing possession in the midfield and good play to wide areas. However, the patience to fashion a real goal threat was somewhat lacking at the initial stages. Despite this, their efforts from a distance were still rewarded with a goal in the 16th minute as Alexis Espitia tapped in a rebound to earn the first goal.
The threat started from Amy Busuttil who wandered up the field and struck goalward. Her shot was parried away by Maria Abdilla in goal, but Hibs forward Alexis Espitia was well-positioned to tap in the rebound and open the scoring. The goalkeeper should have perhaps done better to parry the ball wider from danger rather than centrally into the six-yard box, however, the Mtarfa defense should have been closer to the Hibs forward.
Aleksandra Georgieva found the net in the 24th minute to register Hibs’ second of the night. The midfielder made a good run into the box and was picked out by Chloe Ann Ellul who cut back a cross from the left wing towards Georgieva who curled the ball toward the right corner with the outside of her boot.
Besides assisting the second goal, Chloe Ann Ellul had a few shots on goal herself as she often opted to cut inside from the left wing and shoot. She was rewarded in the 34th minute after her central shot crept underneath diving Maria Abdilla to earn Hibs’ third goal of the night. Though it was good gameplay from Hibs’ number three, Abdilla will be somewhat disappointed with her positioning in the lead-up to the goal.
The fourth goal came from a penalty just three minutes later, after Espitia was brought down in the box. Captain Martina Borg marshaled the ball into the bottom corner while the goalkeeper dived the wrong way.
The fifth and final goal of the first half was scored by Nicole Sciberras. The midfielder had a good partnership with Chloe Ann Ellul throughout the match and was doubly rewarded in the 43rd minute with a goal after being picked out by the same Ellul. Sciberras started the attack after playing a good ball from central midfield to find Ellul who was in acres of space on the left wing. Hibs’s number three cut back to Sciberras who made the run to the near post and curled the ball into the bottom right corner.
Half-Time Score: Mtarfa 0 – 5 Hibernians
Hibs had the game in hand as they came out for the second half but were still looking to extend their lead. Kayleigh Chetcuti was brought on following the break and made her mark on the match early on. She registered Hibs’ sixth in the 51st minute after striking the ball from the left side in an almost crossing position at the edge of the box. The ball sailed below the cross-bar and into the roof of the net.
Chetcuti had a good appearance and came close to scoring twice more. An attempt in the 75th minute found the back of the net after she struck the ball through goalkeeper Abdilla’s legs, and she hit the crossbar with a header just five minutes later. However, the substitute was deemed offside in both cases.
The final goal of the match was scored by another substitute, Thea Difesa. Mtarfa’s Thea Ida Scicluna originally did well to block a close-range shot from Hibs’ captain Martina Borg, however the ball ricocheted into the feet of Difesa who struck low and true into the bottom left corner.
Mtarfa To Take Heart From Chances Created
Despite the one-sided score, the blues did come close to scoring a goal in the 22nd minute. The team pressed Hibs high up the pitch and Aleksandra Peneva knicked the ball from Hibs goalkeeper Jennifer Galea who was on the edge of her box. Mtarfa’s number ten found Angele Fenech who made the run up the field. Fenech struck the ball early in an attempt to capitalize on the goalkeeper being caught out of position. However, Hibs defenders tracked back into the goal forcing good placing from the youngster, and ultimately the shot was wide of the mark.
The blues had another good opportunity in the second half as they caught Hibs on the counter, outnumbering the Hibs defense four to two. Number twenty Shania Marie Spiteri made a good run forcing the ball forward and played in number seven Estelle Borg on the left. The winger passed to forward Rasvita Sluckute, however, the final pass to Alexandra Penova was blocked by Hibs defender Emma Zammit. It was a vital interception as Penova would have been free on goal had the ball gone through to her.
Darya Attard almost created something from nothing towards the latter stages of the match after dribbling her way into midfield. She played a good through ball that cut the Hibs’ defense open, but unfortunately the Mtarfa forward could not control the ball and let the chance to get free on goal slip.
The blues will take heart from the chances created and hope to capitalize on them in the coming games.
League Standings
The win means that Hibernians FC retain third place with a good cushion ahead of fourth place Mgarr United. Meanwhile, Mtarfa FC remain stuck at the bottom place due to the goal difference.
The Assikura Women’s League returns tomorrow 1st March with two fixtures. Mgarr United will welcome strugglers San Gwann in the Mgarr Ground. Meanwhile, the highly anticipated top of the table clash between Swieqi United FC and Birkirkara FC will be played under the lights at the Centenary Stadium Ta’ Qali. The match will be broadcast on TVM Sport+.
A win for Birkirkara FC will all but seal the title for the stripes since they would go six points clear. On the other hand, a win for Swieqi United FC will get the two teams level on points, opening up the title race once again which would yield an exciting few matches at the tail-end of the season.
