Lethal Second-Half Showing From Swieqi Against Agarista Sends Debutants To Saturday’s Final

Swieqi United secured a 5 – 0 win against Agarista Anenii Noi to earn a place in Saturday’s final. Having been denied by the post three times, the Owls went ahead with a brace by Salamatu Abdulai. Aleksandra Yaneva, Sara Saliba and Andjela Kricak finished off the scoring for Swieqi to claim a strong winning start and a historic score for a Maltese side in the competition.

Team Selections

Agarista’s Alina Saitain started in goal behind a back-four consisting of Sarlaston Rotari, Ludmila Caraman, captain Cristina Musteata, Daniela Iurucu. It was a crowded midfield with Alexandrina Maidanscaia, Ludmila Andone, Anastasia tome, Simona Meleca and Gabriela Bagrin. Carolina Vasilachi was the lone attacker.

Patricia Araujo started in goal for Swieqi United. A back-four was chosen consisting of Valentina Rapa, Tammy Falzon, Rafanny Mendoza Abache and Emma Xuereb. Michaela Cachia started in front of the defence, while captain Shona Zammit played the role further up in midfield alongside Andjela Kricak. Aleksandra Yaneva started in a front three with Sara Saliba and Salamatu Abdulai.

How It Unfolded

Swieqi United started with a high pressure on Agarista. Salamatu Abdulai cut inside and tested Alina Saitain within three minutes. The Owls’ Sara Saliba was denied by the crossbar from a corner in the next five minutes, before Agarista’s defence made two further blocks to keep themselves level.

Swieqi United continued pushing forward and controlling play, with another major opportunity thwarted by Cristina Musteata from a corner, before Sara Saliba was released behind the line. She crossed to Aleksandra Yaneva who scooped it over the bar.

The Moldovans regained some composure by the quarter-hour mark, with Carolina Vasilachi applying some pressure on Rafanny Mendoza Abache who managed the situation before clearing. However, Agarista’s attempts to launch forward were read by the Swieqi defence, with the Owls pushing back for the opener.

Referee Eglantina Pjetrushaj was getting some stick for soft fouls called but seemingly wanting to let play go on in other instances. Still the two continued in their battle.

Swieqi United clipped the post once more in the 25th minute. Salamatu was released behind, dribbling past Saitain before playing the cross into the box. However, Cristina Musteatu was there to make the block once more.

Despite being on the front foot, Swieqi were forced into a change for the injured Rafanny Mendoza Abache. Jade Schembri took to the pitch at right-back, with Valentina Rapa moving in the centre-back partnership.

The momentum fizzled out for Swieqi, with Agarista gaining some metres up the pitch but they could not fashion clear cut-opportunities. Swieqi made one last push in injury time, with Sara Saliba and Shona Zammit both driving forward. However, Aleksandra Yaneva fired from a tight angle favouring Saitain who was well placed to make the save.

Half-Time Score: Agarista 0 – 0 Swieqi United

As the second half started, Agarista pushed up earning their first opportunities to test the goal. However, it back-fired with Swieqi United’s Salamatu Abdulai surging forward with venom. Although denied by the post in the 47th minute, a second counter-attack proved to be the key with the Ghanaian dribbling Saitain and placing a composed pass into the gaping net to get Swieqi into the lead in the 48th minute.

The Moldovan side attempted to respond through Gabriela Bagrin who drove forward on the left wing. She combined with Anastasia Tome who returned the pass. However, Bagrin’s floated ball into the box was well-watched by Patricia Araujo.

Swieqi United drove forward for more, and effectively cleaned their act in front of goal to get themselves two successive goals in the 58th minute. Salamatu Abdulai pressed high forcing a mistake at the back to win the ball just outside the box. The forward dove into the box and placed a low finish into the near post. Aleksandra Yaneva made it three with her first goal in Swieqi colours a minute later with a low placed shot across the face of goal.

Swieqi United’s Dorianne Theuma freshened things up bringing on Sarah Urpani instead of Aleksandra Yaneva in the 65th minute. Agarista’s Alexei Gladun responded with a double switch bringing on Adela Ceban and Valeria Tataru instead of Daniela Iurucu and Alexandrina Maidanscaia.

Agarista had a real opportunity to cut the deficit from a free-kick in the final third in the 68th minute. Anastasia Tome fired a dipping shot but it landed just over the bar with Patricia Araujo readying a palm to keep it out.

However, the Swieqi United train kept pushing forward, with Sara Saliba earning and firing home her first goal for Swieqi United and in the UEFA Women’s Champions League with a well taken penalty to the top right corner of the net. The goal also pushed Swieqi to become the first Maltese women’s team to hit the four goal mark in a match in the competition.

Further substitutions were made from both benches. Ana Burlea replaced Ludmila Andone for Agarista, with Dumitrita Ignat coming on late on. Swieqi United made a triple switch with Shona Zammit, Valentina Rapa and Michaela Cachia replaced by Ema Micallef, Miriana Conti and Eva Koneva.

The Owls kept control of the ball in search for more opportunities. Sara Saliba continued being a threat driving forward, skipping past three players to dive into the box. Although her effort was blocked, Andjela Kricak was there to finish off the score with the fifth in the 85th minute to ensure the win for Swieqi United on their debut in the competition.

Final Score: Agarista 0 – 5 Swieqi United

Result & Next Matches

The score makes Swieqi United just the second Maltese team to earn a victory in the competition, following Birkirkara. The score makes them the highest scoring Maltese team in a single match in the competition, with the record previously set by Hibernians in a 3 – 3 draw, ten years ago.

Swieqi United will learn their opponents in Saturday’s final based on the winner from the other match in the group that will be played later today (19:00) between hosts Spartak Myjava and debutants ZFK Buducnost.

The final will be played on Saturday at 19:00. Agarista will play for third place on Saturday at 11:00.

Lead Image: Michael Azzopardi (Swieqi United)

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