by Lija Athletic managed a 1-0 victory against Mtarfa, courtesy of a header by substitute Edera Marmara’. Leanne Micallef grabs the assist, while she was denied by the crossbar late on.
Team Selections
Captain Dorienne Grech started in goal for Mtarfa. Darya Attard made a return in the centre of the defence, alongside Rebecca Zammit, while Angele Fenech and Corinne Deguara provided the width. Maia Cutajar started alongside Nicole Mifsud in front of the defence. Shania Spiteri occupied the number ten role, with Paula Ciappara and Oumayma Jelili on her flanks. Maria Abdilla was the sole attacker.
Christiana Pisani retained her place in goal, protected by an unchanged back-four in Shakira Bugeja, Nell Zarb Cousin, Sarah Caruana and Mariah Schembri. Rachel Mifsud occupied the holding midfield position, with Ylenia Azzopardi in support. Captain Simone Buttigieg started further forward behind Leanne Micallef in the centre of attack, with Elisa Xuereb and Katryna Grech occupying the flanks.
How It Unfolded
Lija Athletic started off strong with a major opportunity to break the deadlock within the first few minutes. Elisa Xuereb crossed toward Katryna Grech at the far post, but she was reluctant to pull the trigger, instead relaying it across toward Simone Buttigieg. However, Darya Attard intercepted to deny the shot from close range.
Katryna Grech continued to find good space on the wing, with her team keen to exploit her pace behind. However, Dorienne Grech was equal to shots at both sides of the goal. Lija Athletic were in command of possession in the opening quarter of an hour. Shakira Bugeja fired a strike from distance after being well found by Rachel Mifsud out wide, but it flew just above the crossbar. Mtarfa’s Darya Attard made a crucial tackle to deny Leanne Micallef space to rotate for the shot, before Simone Buttigieg’s long range effort was saved by Dorienne Grech.
The Blues sprang into attack in the 26th minute. Paula Ciappara released Maria Abdilla who made a lunge down the left wing before darting down the byline toward the six-yard box. However, Christiana Pisani stayed big to deny her the goal.
The rains arrived shortly after and did not relent much until the end of the match, bringing forth a different dynamic to the game. Lija Athletic developed a good opportunity on the half-hour mark as Leanne Micallef released Simone Buttigieg, with the two seemingly having swapped positions. The Lija skipper dribbled past Dorienne Grech, but her effort to find the net was blocked by the defence who recovered well.
Half-Time Score: Mtarfa 0 – 0 Lija Athletic
Lija Athletic’s Vanessa Honorio Carneiro came onto the pitch in replacement of Ylenia Azzopardi at the break. Meanwhile, Mtarfa’s Nicole Mifsud swapped positions with Shania Spiteri. Lija Athletic continued enjoying the early spells of possession but struggled to make it pay off for the goal.
Mtarfa’s coaching staff made their first switch two minutes shy of the hour mark, bringing on Kerrie Ciappara in a direct swap with Maia Cutajar. Jasmine Camilleri was introduced instead of Oumayma Jelili shortly after, while Edera Marmara’ took to the pitch instead of Elisa Xuereb for Lija Athletic.
Vanessa Honorio Carneiro had a glorious opportunity to put Lija Athletic into the lead in the 67th minute after being released by an inch perfect pass from Leanne Micallef. However, with just the goalkeeper to beat, the Brazilian pulled the shot wide of the far post.
Despite this, Lija Athletic finally made one of their corners pay off for the only goal of the match two minutes later. Leanne Micallef delivered an in-swinger toward Edera Marmara’, who headed it home at the near post.
The goal revitalised the match. Marmara’ struck just wide, before Simone Buttigieg skipped past two markers into the box, but had her cross intercepted by the Mtarfa defence. On their part, the Blues were being urged to respond by their coaches.
However, Lija Athletic’s Edera Marmara’ and Katryna Grech were the next to play a good combination, with Marmara’ firing a first time shot which fizzed just wide. Dorienne Grech displayed heroic goalkeeping to deny them once more in the 79th minute as Lija Athletic quickly transitioned into attack with one-touch football. However, Mtarfa’s skipper surged toward the edge of the penalty box to block the initially released Katryna Grech, before making a second save to deny Vanessa Honorio Carneiro and then slide tackling a clearance as the Brazilian attempted to recover for a rebound.
Mtarfa’s coaches responded with a double switch, bringing on Jade Azzopardi on the right wing, while Slavina Alexandrova Peneva occupied the number ten position. Jasmine Camilleri shifted into right-back, with Nicole Mifsud and Shania Spiteri being the ones to make way. Lija Athletic’s bench responded by bringing on Samira Bouzid in defence, pushing Sarah Caruana into the holding midfield position, while Rachel Mifsud was given an early rest. There was also a change between the posts as Julia Zarb replaced Christiana Pisani.
Mtarfa attempted to create something late on, but it was the Reds who came closest. Rebecca Zammit made a crucial tackle to deny Vanessa Honorio Carneiro from having another go, before Leanne Micallef struck the crossbar with an effort from the right wing in the final throes of the match.
Final Score: Mtarfa 0 – 1 Lija Athletic
Standings & Next Matches
Lija Athletic continue shutting out Mtarfa, taking their points tally to sixteen. The two teams will begin their final round of fixtures on Saturday 9th March at Dingli Ground. Mtarfa will open proceedings against San Gwann (14:00), followed by Lija Athletic taking on group leaders Valletta (16:30).
Until then, Assikura Women’s League action continues tonight with the clash between Valletta and San Gwann at the Victor Tedesco Stadium (20:30). Tomorrow, presents the top-four clashes at Mgarr Ground as Birkirkara host Hibernians (14:00), followed by Swieqi United against Mgarr United (16:30).
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