by Lija Athletic secured a 2 – 0 win against Mtarfa to take their tally to double digits this season. Estefany Colmenarez Gonzalez broke the deadlock early on. Nell Zarb Cousin powered a header to double the lead for the reds.
Team Selections
Mtarfa’s captain Dorienne Grech started in goal, protected by a back-four consisting of Maria Abdilla, Rebecca Zammit, Paula Ciappara and Jasmine Camilleri. Claire Versteegh shifted to the defensive midfield position, while Shania Spiteri and Katie Gribbon started further forward. Eliza Csik and Kerrie Ciappara flanked Laura Echeverri Tobon in attack.
Lija Athletic had a change between the posts, with Julia Zarb making the start. Milena Stagno and Ilona Sultana operated as full-backs, to Lorna-Maria Cassar and captain Sarah Micallef. Laury Carrasco Gonzalez partnered Nell Zarb Cousin in midfield. Leanne Micallef and Kylie Pantalleresco flanked Estefany Colmenarez Gonzalez, while Vanessa Honorio Carneiro led the attack.
How It Unfolded
Lija Athletic had an early chance to put the ball into the box from a free-kick on the right wing, but could not work Mtarfa’s defence with the delivery.
However, the side broke the deadlock in the 11th minute with well-worked possession to open up Mtarfa’s defence. Estefany Colmenarez Gonzalez delivered the finish with a well-struck left-footed effort into the top right corner of the net for her first goal in Lija colours.
Mtarfa responded with a chance of their own, with Claire Versteegh firing across and earning a corner. Lija’s defence cleared the initial delivery, as well as the second ball in, maintaining their resolve for a clean sheet.
Opportunities arose at either end, with Dorienne Grech making a save against Vanessa Honorio Carneiro’s low strike, before a corner delivery from Leanne Micallef was headed out by Katie Gribbon. Sarah Micallef put in an expertly timed tackle against Laura Echeverri Tobon in a high stakes challenge that would have earned her an early shower if she had gotten it wrong.
Mtarfa had two opportunities to test Julia Zarb from free-kicks, with the goalkeeper not made to sweat too much by Katie Gribbon and Rebecca Zammit, despite both hitting the target.
While there was some intent, neither side really managed to trouble too much, with Lija Athletic’s Leanne Micallef coming closest with a dink from the left post that ended wide.
Half-Time Score: Mtarfa 0 – 1 Lija Athletic
Lija Athletic’s Jethron Azzopardi made one change at the break, bringing on Shakira Bugeja in midfield, while Lorna-Maria Cassar made way. Nell Zarb Cousin retreated to the defence alongside Sarah Micallef.
The team in red started with some good buildup in midfield in search for the second goal of the match. Leanne Micallef nutmegged her marker on the right wing, before delivering a cut-back, but the timing of the runs into the box lagged behind letting Mtarfa off the hook momentarily.
Still, Lija Athletic recovered possession to earn themselves a corner which they used to good effect to double their lead. Shakira Bugeja delivered toward Nell Zarb Cousin, who powered a header into the near post in the 57th minute.
Changes ensued from both benches with Edera Marmara’ also making a return, with Kylie Pantalleresco making way. Corine Deguara relieved Nell Zarb Cousin later on, taking the left-back duties, while Ilona Sultana shifted into centre-back. Meanwhile, Katya Camilleri replaced Katie Gribbon for Mtarfa, before Laura Echeverri Tobon had to be carried off the pitch by her teammates through injury. Julianne Camilleri came on in her stead.
Lija Athletic’s Milena Stagno was hard at work at either end, with the full-back keen on making a run up the pitch before delivering a cross toward Vanessa Honorio Carneiro. However, it was just slightly deeper, with the forward unable to adjust in time to make the connection for the shot.
The team in red continued to push forward for more, earning two free-kick opportunities as the 75th minute elapsed. However, Dorienne Grech held Shakira Bugeja’s initial strike, before handling the delivery from Leanne Micallef. Lija attempted to trouble from consecutive corners, with a final shot from Milena Stagno blocked by the Blues who were holding their ground.
Both coaches made further changes, with Maria Ibrahim replacing Leanne Micallef for Lija Athletic, while Emily Farrugia took to the pitch instead of Maria Abdilla for Mtarfa.
The energy in the match sapped, with the lack of quality in possession starving the match of any real goal-mouth action. Estefany Colmenary Gonzalez and Laury Carrasco Gonzalez injected some excitement with first-time flicks between them, but the final pass to release the striker was well-read by Claire Versteegh.
Mtarfa responded with a free-kick from the left wing, which Lija deflected for a corner that was well defended. At the other end, the team in red had one final opportunity for a shot from a free-kick following a clattering between Paula Ciappara and Vanessa Honorio Carneiro. However, Lija Athletic complicated matters with a short-routine that fizzled out.
Final Score: Mtarfa 0 – 2 Lija Athletic
Standings & Next Matches
Lija Athletic take their tally to double-figures on twelve points. They return against Valletta on Saturday 8th at Dingli Ground, with the match starting at 16:30. Mtarfa will meet San Gwann earlier in the day at 14:00.
However, before then, this afternoon presents two clashes from the Top Four, where Swieqi United and Hibernians face off at 14:00 with eyes set on first-place, before Birkirkara & Mgarr United seek to get the better of each other starting at 16:30. Both matches will be played at Dingli Ground.
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