by Lija Athletic held on to a 1 – 0 score to secure a maiden victory over Valletta. Debutant Lisa Calleja got the winner early in the match, with Valletta also denied by the post in a stop-start encounter that was heavily impacted by the increasingly waterlogged pitch. There were positives for both teams on the return of Gaia Antonelli and Rachel Mifsud from long-term injuries, but Lija Athletic succumbed to another serious injury for Vanessa Honorio Carneiro.
Team Selections
Isabel Sanchez returned in goal for Lija Athletic, behind a quartet consisting of Shakira Bugeja, Nell Zarb Cousin, captain Sarah Micallef and Milena Stagno. Kylie Pantalleresco started in midfield alongside Laury Carrasco Gonzalez. Estefany Colmenarez Gonzalez started further afield, flanked by Leanne Micallef and debutant Lisa Calleja. Vanessa Honorio Carneiro led the attack.
Meanwhile, Kayleigh Vella Barberi started in goal for Valletta, protected by a trusted trio of captain Anna Aloisio, Sabrin Blihi and Eunice Micallef. Monique Sultana continued to operate in midfield alongside French duo Lilou Lucas and Lucie Lucas. Laura Muscat and Oriane Le Gouez started on the wings, with Ylenia Grech supporting Rodianne Zerafa in attack.
How It Unfolded
The match kicked off in relatively dry conditions, with the wind having dried up several large sections of the pitch throughout the opener of the afternoon. Both sides kicked off proceedings with a hunt for control.
Valletta snuck an early attack with Oriane Le Gouez charging down the centre of the field, before spreading it wide for Rodianne Zerafa. She played the cross into the box, but Isabel Sanchez was first to the ball.
Lija Athletic responded with a chance of their own that ultimately made all the difference in the score on the evening. Lisa Calleja powered her way on the left flank, before letting fly across a left-footed effort. Kayleigh Vella Barberi got something on it, before attempting to palm it out from the goal-line. However, the officials deemed the ball to have crossed the line, awarding the goal to Lija Athletic.
The goal invigorated Lija Athletic, who grew stronger in possession and started to find more spaces, while Valletta appeared still rattled by the goal. Vanessa Honorio Carneiro was released behind the defence by Leanne Micallef, but saw her effort deflected for a corner. The Citizens saw off the initial danger, before Anna Aloisio dealt with the second ball from Kylie Pantalleresco.
The team in black could have made more of an opportunity as Vanessa Honorio Carneiro picked up the ball in midfield, before involving Lisa Calleja and Estefany Colmenarez Gonzalez. However, there was no one to apply the finish to the latter’s cross into the box.
Valletta’s Jean Lopes sought to instil a positive reaction from his team, which the side grew into. Oriane Le Gouez struck venomous effort from distance, but Isabel Sanchez was concentrated on catching the ball.
However, the Citizens continued in their search and were denied by the post on the half-hour mark. Rodianne Zerafa latched onto a miscued clearance at the back from Lija Athletic, before letting fly with a first-timed effort, only to see it clipping the left post.
The open encounter continued, with Lija Athletic having a major opportunity to get some breathing room just before the break. Estefany Colmenarez Gonzalez crossed into the box, finding Vanessa Honorio Carneiro completely unmarked. However, the Brazilian side-footed the effort wide of the mark.
Vanessa Honorio Carneiro’s evening ended shortly after, following a head collision that required medical assistance, with the forward substituted at the break by Lorna-Maria Cassar. She slotted at left-back, pushing Milena Stagno on the right, while Shakira Bugeja was released further forward on the wing. Leanne Micallef occupied the striker’s position.
Referee Huseyin Baykus blew the half-time whistle just as the rain started, which was unrelenting henceforth throughout the match.
The players came back onto the pitch for the second half, with Lija Athletic earning a first opportunity within two minutes. Kylie Pantalleresco released Shakira Bugeja behind the defence. However, Anna Aloisio recovered her position to make the block on the shot.
Though the pitch appeared still playable, referee Huseyin Baykus stopped proceedings as heavy rainfall poured in the 52nd minute. He decided to continue play after two minutes of standstill.
The players came back onto the pitch and continued the encounter, with Valletta attempting to inject some rhythm into their game in search for the equaliser. Both coaches made changes, with Suzanne Farrugia Sacco replacing Laura Muscat for Valletta, while Phoebe Camilleri was thrusted up top for Lija Athletic, instead of Leanne Micallef.
The Citizens fought for possession, finding a Lija Athletic side ready to defend their single goal advantage in any means necessary, reminiscing of the first match of the season between the two.
However, rhythm was disrupted once more in the 66th minute as referee Huseyin Baykus consulted the state of the pitch with his assistants Milos Solakovic and Kyle Cilia once more. Four minutes of stoppage ensued as the referee brought captains and coaches into the fold of the discussion, but the match was resumed.
The patchy affair continued with Lija Athletic’s Phoebe Camilleri off on the counter with acres of space to run into. However, the youngster ran straight into a puddle, halting the ball and bringing her run to an abrupt standstill just outside the box. She recovered position quick enough for the effort, but was wide of the mark.
As conditions deteriorated, waterlogged areas further hampered the rhythm and quality of play, but both sides trudged on with Valletta keen to get things moving, while Lija Athletic sought to thwart play.
Valletta’s Gaia Antonelli made her first appearance following recovering from an ACL injury for the final ten minutes of the match, with Rodianne Zerafa making way and Oriane Le Gouez thrusted into the attacking duties. Alicia Mifsud also took to the pitch instead of Monique Sultana. There was also a late switch in goal, with Gabriella Grima replacing Kayleigh Vella Barberi.
Lija Athletic’s Rachel Mifsud also made a return from a long spell on the sidelines, appearing together with Maria Ibrahim. Lisa Calleja and Milena Stagno made way.
Valletta continued playing with urgency as the final minutes rolled on, with frustration equally poignant as a desire to get the equaliser as play was consistently disrupted by dead-spots of water.
On their part Lija Athletic were relying on a combined effort to break up any potential build-ups by the side in search of holding on to their lead with Sarah Micallef barking instructions for her team to stay focused on the match.
Huseyin Baykus signalled seven minutes of injury time. Valletta had one final opportunity with a free-kick from midfield. Gabriella Grima hoofed up field but the ball sailed wide with no one getting a touch.
Final Score: Lija Athletic 1 – 0 Valletta
Standings & Next Matches
Lija Athletic secure a maiden triumph over Valletta, slashing the gap between them to two points.
Lija Athletic will carry the confidence into the next encounter as they face San Gwann on Saturday 15th February at 14:00 at Dingli Ground. The Yellows come into it with a five-win streak confirmed with a 5 – 1 win over Mtarfa earlier in the afternoon. Valletta will meet Mtarfa later in the day with the match starting at 16:30.
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