by Manchester United will not be the only United team playing in Malta this evening. Mgarr United and Swieqi United will go head-to-head in the Assikura Women’s League at the Victor Tedesco Stadium (20:30), with the Greens looking to leapfrog Swieqi, while the latter seek to extend their advantage. The coaches provided their thoughts on the match and the shifting dynamics with player returns & transfers.
Yet To Find The Net
The two sides enjoy a rather healthy goal-scoring tally but drew blanks when facing each other the first time out. Sitting in second (Swieqi United) and third (Mgarr United), separated by just one point in the table, there’s plenty up for grabs for the two sides. Mgarr United eye an opportunity to leapfrog the Owls, while Swieqi United will want nothing more than to create a gap to the Greens and Hibernians, which would also put them in better contention to focus on chasing Birkirkara.
It is rather interesting that the two sides failed to find the back of the net against each other, when one considers that the two teams feature the four strikers with the most goals in the league thus far. Assikura Women’s League Player of the Month for August/September Joelma Alves Gabriel (Mgarr United) leads with 17 goals, followed by compatriot and teammate Fernanda Peinado (15 goals). She is equalled by Swieqi United’s Salamatu Abdulai (also 15 goals) and closely followed by Karima Abdulai (12).
In fact, the Greens have scored a total of 51 goals this year thus far, and conceded 9. The only two teams that they have not found the net against are Swieqi United and Birkirkara, two opponents who they will be facing in the span of a week.
The Greens’ Neville Cassar was questioned about the importance of breaking the duck against the two sides, considering that winning points against them will be even more crucial once the league split is acted. He said, “Both Birkirkara and Swieqi have a very solid defensive line. The numbers speak for themselves, they conceded very few goals. It’s an extra challenge for us but we believe we have the correct players to create a good number of goal-scoring chances. The most important thing is that the team makes the most of these chances.”
Meanwhile, Swieqi United managed to find the net against Birkirkara, while yet having to find the net against Hibernians and Mgarr United. Presented with a similar question on scoring against the Greens, Swieqi United’s coach Saviour Darmanin was also of the frame of mind that the conundrum lies in taking the chances created.
Darmanin said, “Both of us had opportunities to score but did not manage to do so. I think on our part we created chances where it was a one on one chance with the goalkeeper but we did not convert. We have been solid defensively and created good chances in these big matches, but conversion is something that we are working on improving.”
Looking at the upcoming match Darmanin said, “This is a balanced match, with two good sides going against each other. Three points are crucial for both sides. In our case we want to get the three points to stay as close as possible to Birkirkara.” The coach also alluded to the fact while the team has been preparing for this match, the direct confrontation straight after the holiday period for players who also juggle playing the sport along with full-time jobs may also play a part.
Shifting Dynamics With Player Returns
The two sides have been hampered by long-term injuries to key players. Mgarr United also started the season without Amber Grech whom Neville Cassar noted is continuing with her recovery. Angelique Schembri made a return this season with sparing minutes but will not be making an appearance against the Owls after picking up another injury in the past week.
On the other hand, having been absent from action since March of last year, Leanne Cefai has been making a steady return to the first eleven with increasing minutes, including in the last match before the break, against Lija Athletic.
Summer signing Anastasia Sivolobova has adapted to the league well alongside Maia Debono in Cefai’s absence. The Moldovan international could also play a full-back role, as well as in the centre of the defence. However, asked on whether they plan to utilise this depth for rotation in the centre-back pairing or whether the trio could be making several appearances together, Neville Cassar was unwilling to reveal any plans, simply commenting, “Anastasia’s versatility gives us many options and we can use this our advantage.”
Swieqi United have had their own long-term injuries to deal with, including to Andy Zammit, Jade Flask and more recently Mandy Debono. Last year’s MFA Footballer Of The Year and MFPA Women’s Best Player Jade Flask is the first to start making a return to the pitch, having been on the sidelines for a similar spell to Mgarr United’s Cefai.
Speaking about her return, Darmanin said, “Jade Flask is steadily making her way back and this is a positive. She featured in the Assikura Women’s Youth League for the first time just before the winter break (in the 7-1 win over title-rivals Valletta). It is a good sign and she has been training with us for a while, but we will manage her minutes for now based on specialists’ advice.”
Similar to the boost by Cefai’s return for Mgarr United’s defence, Flask’s re-introduction could result in a shift in Swieqi United’s forward line. As noted above, Salamatu Abdulai and Karima Abdulai have had a strong goalscoring return, but the trio are all versatile in positions on the pitch.
Like his counterpart, Darmanin was reluctant to say whether he sees Flask’s return as an opportunity to rotate the central striker role or whether he intends to unleash all three at one go. On the contrary, Swieqi United’s coach pointed to the further wealth of options in attack. Indeed both Mariah Sciberras and Kaysia Micallef have also been impressing on the widths.
Furthermore, Swieqi United have already made movements in the market as summer signing Kennedy Metzger departed the team last month. However, Saviour Darmanin hinted that their business may not be done just yet.
Focusing On The Present
Such changes from both sides could give the final phase encounters a very different look, but until then the teams will rely on their current roster of players to get the three points. The match begins at 20:30 at the Victor Tedesco Stadium, with tickets available for purchase at the gates.
There will be a double-header in women’s football in Malta this evening, as Manchester United take on PSV in a friendly just before, at the Tony Bezzina Stadium at 18:00. Tickets for that match may be purchased online with proceeds going to ALS charity Dar Bjorn.
Lead Images: Jonathan Sajeba / Lara Schembri
Stay up to date by following The Sporting Fan on social media: Instagram ~ Facebook ~ X
