Lija Athletic Hand San Gwann First Defeat From Bottom Four Pool

Lija Athletic continued their ascendency with a 1 – 0 win over San Gwann. The result marks back-to-back victories against the two teams leading the Bottom Four pool. Lisa Calleja was on the mark once more for the side, although the team could have had more with Leanne Micallef also striking the post.

Team Selections

Justyne Caruana continued her stay in goal for San Gwann, protected by a back-four consisting of Kirstie Vella, Jeanelle Falzon, Nanako Kobayashi and Naomi Blundell. Fatma Al Girbi started in midfield with captain Annabelle Rapa and Martina Schembri operating further forward. Chaimaa Tourki orchestrated behind Yasmin Attard and Shania Gheiti.

Lija Athletic’s Isabel Sanchez continued to operate between the posts. There were also no changes in defence with Milena Stagno, captain Sarah Micallef, Nell Zarb Cousin and Shakira Bugeja occupying the positions. Kylie Pantalleresco continued in a midfield partnership with Laury Carrasco Gonzalez, while Estefany Colmenarez Gonzalez operated further forward. Lisa Calleja and Leanne Micallef started on the flanks, while Vanessa Honorio Carneiro led the attack.

How It Unfolded

The matched kicked off to a cross-wind that persisted throughout. Lija Athletic got the early control which they did not really let up throughout the opening half.

The team in black applied early pressure, but struggled to trouble Justyne Caruana in goal early on. The team did not capitalise on an early corner opportunity. There was some panic in the San Gwann defence as Shakira Bugeja whipped a cross toward Lisa Calleja who headed it down for Vanessa Honorio Carneiro to strike. However, she was ruled offside.

Still, the team kept pushing and Leanne Micallef came close to opening the deadlock in the 18th minute. She let fly a first-timed finish from distance, which travelled in air but struck the far post. Kylie Pantalleresco tested Justyne Caruana from distance a few moments later, but the goalkeeper was equal to the shot.

San Gwann struggled to emerge from their own half for the opening twenty minutes. However, the side started to turn things shortly after by winning a free-kick in midfield to relieve some pressure. Lija Athletic were untroubled with that one, but San Gwann had a good chance to open the score in the 27th minute. Fatma Al Girbi delivered a corner toward Nanako Kobayashi, but the header was just wide.

Chaimaa Tourki attempted to spark some life into the team’s attack, while Julian Camilleri was urging more work rate from his team off the ball.

Having already been in each other’s faces earlier on, Shania Gheiti and Shakira Bugeja both landed in Francesco Squillari’s book following an altercation instigated from the stands.

Still, it was Lija that continued to search for the goal that proved their dominance in the opening half. Lisa Calleja had a good opportunity in the 43rd minute, connecting with a cross in the box, but seeing her first-timed right-footed effort fizz just wide. Nanako Kobayashi cleared a corner delivery just before injury time.

However, the team in black got rewarded for their perseverance in the 47th minute. Continuing to work the ball to good effect, the side opened up the space for Lisa Calleja to strike. She slotted into the far post to put Lija into the lead.

Shania Gheiti attempted to get San Gwann set for an immediate response with a dart up the pitch, before Chaimaa Tourki and Yasmin Attard got involved. However, Leanne Micallef retrieved possession before sending the team in the other direction.

Julian Camilleri made a switch at the break, bringing on Hailey Russell instead of Yasmin Attard in attack. Lija Athletic could not pick up where they left off, while it was evident that San Gwann were looking to change their own trajectory in the match.

The team in Yellow earned a chance ten minutes into the restart, pressing Lija’s defence and winning possession high up the pitch. Having won the ball, Chaimaa Tourki dove to the byline, but opted for the shot which was an easy gather for Isabel Sanchez. There was frustration for Shania Gheiti who was wide open for the cut-back and a tap in. Tourki worked Isabel Sanchez with a more central effort a few moments later, but the goalkeeper was keen on her clean sheet.

Julian Camilleri continued changing his side, bringing on Mariama Kasim in defence, while Kirstie Vella gave way. The change shifted Annabelle Rapa into the right-back position, while Nanako Kobayashi moved into midfield. Nilayza Attard entered the fold later on, with Martina Schembri making way.

There was some chaos in the Lija defensive box as San Gwann’s Shania Gheiti continued pressing high getting between Milena Stagno and Isabel Sanchez as they dealt with an aerial ball. However, the finish was wide of the mark. Tensions were high once more as Hailey Russell took charge of a direct free-kick just outside the box, but it fizzed right on top of the crossbar.

Referee Francesco Squillari appeared happy to let play go on in most cases. The rivalry in the match intensified as the match ebbed toward its final stages, with the result heading towards another change in this year’s Assikura Women’s League campaign.

Lija Athletic were keen on holding their shape, but struggled to mount any pressure on the counter to really make San Gwann hesitate at the back. There was a change in attack, with Phoebe Camilleri replacing Vanessa Honorio Carneiro toward the end.

The youngster was almost immediately involved as Shakira Bugeja launched a free-kick from midfield toward her. However, Mariama Kasim was first to the ball. The battle between the two continued as the match went into injury time, with Phoebe Camilleri surging with a late counter-attack, but finding Mariama Kasim ready to shut the door once more before any support arrived.

San Gwann had a couple more attempts to create something, with Milena Stagno intercepting a pass to release Shania Gheiti, before Isabel Sanchez palmed out a late free-kick by Fatma Al Girbi to the sound of the full-time whistle.

Final Score: San Gwann 0 – 1 Lija Athletic

Standings & International Break

The result provides another twist in the Assikura Women’s League this season as Lija Athletic mark their first victory against San Gwann, being the only Bottom Four team to defeat them this season thus far.

It means San Gwann maintain their lead out front on 28 points, but Lija take their tally to 18 points in third place. Lija Athletic keep pressure on second-placed Valletta, who on their part secured the three points with a 3 – 2 victory against Mtarfa to take their own tally to 20 points.

The weekend gives way to the international break. Malta’s women’s national team will be competing in the UEFA Women’s Nations League starting by visiting Cyprus on the 21st February (18:00 CET), before welcoming Andorra at the Centenary Stadium on the 25th February (19:30).

The Assikura Women’s League returns on the 6th of March.

Make sure to never miss an Assikura Women’s League match by syncing your calendar here.

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