by Lija Athletic recovered the three points lost against the Yellows in the second round with a 3-1 victory. Leanne Micallef got Lija Athletic going early on, before San Gwann’s Chaimaa Tourki responded with the leveller. However, Lija Athletic’s Vanessa Honorio Carneiro nudged the team in front once more, before Sarah Caruana wrapped things up from the penalty spot in the second half.
Team Selections
Justyne Caruana returned in goal for San Gwann, protected by Kirstie Vella, Nicole Camenzuli and Sarah Cioffi. Rabab Mhalli and Thresa Scicluna provided the width to captain Annabelle Rapa and Fatma Al Girbi in midfield. Andjela Kricak operated in a more advanced role, behind the debutant Reham Mellah and Chaimaa Tourki.
Meanwhile, Christiana Pisani started in goal for Lija Athletic. There was one change in the defence, with Daniela Camilleri starting in the right-back role alongside the Nell Zarb Cousin, Sarah Caruana and Mariah Schembri. Ylenia Azzopardi made her debut in midfield, alongside Rachel Mifsud, while captain Simone Buttigieg was often the most advanced. Elisa Xuereb and Vanessa Honorio Carneiro provided the width to Leanne Micallef in attack.
A Thrilling Opening Half
The importance of the three points at stake was not lost on either side as the two teams both started the match with a high intensity. However, it was Lija Athletic who grabbed the occasion early on. Leanne Micallef opened the scoring with a chip over the goalkeeper to send her team into the lead and the support on their feet after just seven minutes.
Although not starting as desired, San Gwann were keen to respond, with Annabelle Rapa winning a free-kick in midfield to get the team up the pitch. However, Lija Athletic’s defence stood strong and the team in black was keen on the counter. Ylenia Azzopardi released Leanne Micallef out wide but Justyne Caruana collected the cross.
Lija Athletic were not resting on their laurels and attempted to double the lead from a corner. However, Daniela Camilleri was closed down before managing to get a shot on Leanne Micallef’s corner delivery. On their part, San Gwann were keen to counter in search of the leveller but Sarah Caruana covered effectively.
Despite this, the Yellows got their reward just before the twenty minute mark, following a throw-in. Rabab Mhalli crossed the ball into the box, which caused confusion between Mariah Schembri and Christiana Pisani. Chaimaa Tourki arrived inside the box just in time to get a foot on the stretch to chip the goalkeeper and land the ball into the net.
San Gwann’s contingent were fired up and ready to get their noses in front and attempted to do so from a free-kick shortly after. Nicole Camenzuli launched from deep, but the resulting header was easy enough for Christiana Pisani to collect.
The two debutants were doing their best to get involved in the match. Reham Mellah had limited opportunities to hold up play with the defence keen to get on her back immediately. Meanwhile, Ylenia Azzopardi was showing a good work ethic to help the team get up and down the pitch and appeared at ease in linking with her new teammates.
Despite having seen their lead cancelled, Lija Athletic seemed to believe in their ability to get in front once more, which they managed just on the half-hour mark. Leanne Micallef delivered a free-kick from the left wing, which Vanessa Honorio Carneiro headed into the right side of the goal, sending the Lija support back on their feet.
There was some concern shortly after, as Thresa Scicluna crashed into a goal-net that was placed on the sidelines and close to the side-wall. However, she shook off the injury to get back into the thick of it in search for another equaliser.
The Yellows had two major opportunities in the final ten minutes of the half. Andjela Kricak looked to convert a cross from Annabelle Rapa with the outside foot. However, Christiana Pisani dove well to make the save. A couple of minutes later Chaimaa Tourki spread wide to Thresa Scicluna toward Reham Mellah. The striker arrived at the far post but complicated things by trying to get a foot on the ball, ultimately letting the ball go out of play and thus Lija Athletic off the hook.
Half-Time Score: San Gwann 1 – 2 Lija Athletic
San Gwann’s Attempts To Draw Level Undone By Penalty
Chasing the result, Julian Camilleri made an attacking change, bringing on Nilayza Attard in midfield in replacement of Sarah Cioffi. The change resulted in Annabelle Rapa shifting into the defence.
The match was tightly poised and aware of the threat of a leveller Lija Athletic sought to extend their lead. However, the team could not capitalise on set-pieces. There appeared to be a good attack going as Vanessa Honorio Carneiro linked with Leanne Micallef, before they attempted to cross into Rachel Mifsud who made the run toward the box. However, San Gwann recovered the ball.
On the other hand, frustration ensued for the Yellows as the front-line could not quite gel quickly enough on the afternoon to convert the final ball. Whenever they did, Lija Athletic’s defensive unit was often ready to intercept or put enough pressure to deny the shooting opportunity.
Changes ensued for both teams close to the hour mark. Julian Camilleri brought on Shania Gheiti in attack, while Thresa Scicluna made way. The change resulted in Chaimaa Tourki retreating in midfield, while Nilayza Attard moved to the wing. Katryna Grech made an appearance for Lija Athletic instead of Leanne Micallef, shortly following a free-kick which Micallef sent over the bar.
San Gwann had the opportunity to strike themselves from the edge of the area just seconds later. Andjela Kricak lined up the set-piece but the strike was central enough for Christiana Pisani to save.
The hammer blow for the Yellows arrived in the 66th minute as Vanessa Honorio Carneiro appeared to be clipped. There was some hesitancy from the referees, which resulted in frustration from both sides, but the officials ultimately decided to give the penalty. Often the back-bone of the defence, Sarah Caruana got some goalscoring glory with a well-powered strike into the net, giving her side a two-goal cushion.
Julian Camilleri made two more changes bringing on Yasmin Attard in attack instead of the debutant Reham Mellah, while Fatma Al Girbi gave way to Tracy Axiak who slotted in defence.
Andjela Kricak looked to put in an immediate response with a burst up the right wing, skipping past two markers before delivering a peach of a low ball across the six-yard box, which needed just a touch that never materialised. Shania Gheiti managed to get some space from the resulting throw, but her low effort was wide of the mark.
Frustration continued to pile up for the Yellows, while Lija Athletic were now calmer in managing the game, but continuing with the mantra of attack as the best form of defence. The team created some good play and earned a number of free-kicks to take time away from San Gwann, but were unable to add to their tally.
Meanwhile, a real tussle developed between Nilayza Attard and Elisa Xuereb with both putting in a good fight to get the better of each other on the wing. Daniela Camilleri gave way to Edera Marmara’ for the final ten minutes of the match, with Katryna Grech pushed into the right-back role while Marmara’ was more advanced.
Although having a good lead, Lija Athletic made a hash of a clearance which allowed Shania Gheiti to recover possession in the box. However, by the time she controlled the ball for the shot, Nell Zarb Cousin was well positioned to make the block.
Lija Athletic pushed up-field once more, with the midfield force still giving it their all and ultimately winning the battle in the centre of the pitch. Julian Camilleri reacted by bringing on Martina Schembri in replacement of Annabelle Rapa in search of adding more energy to the midfield.
Andjela Kricak made another surge on the left wing before pinging another cross, which this time was cleared by Mariah Schembri. Yasmin Attard attempted to fire home from the second ball, but saw her effort fly wide as more time slipped away from their hands.
Lija Athletic kept the ball high up the pitch until the final whistle, which sounded to the heartfelt roar of celebration from the Lija contingent, both from those on the pitch and those supporting in the stands.
Final Score: San Gwann 1 – 3 Lija Athletic
Standings & Next Matches
Lija Athletic recover the three points lost in the second round with the victory, taking their tally to 10 points in seventh-place, while San Gwann remain on 13 points in sixth.
The team in black will be buoyed by an important victory that keeps alive the race for sixth. They will next face Mtarfa on Friday 2nd February at the Victor Tedesco Stadium at 20:30. Meanwhile, San Gwann will face another test against Valletta whom they meet on Thursday 1st February at the Centenary Stadium, KO 20:15.
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[…] in the first half against Mtarfa, but still ultimately prevailed with a 5-0 scoreline. Meanwhile, San Gwann succumbed to their first defeat at the hands of Lija Athletic. The result puts pressure on the Yellows to defend sixth place. Failure to obtain points tonight […]