by Valletta will take on Lija Athletic in the final match of this Assikura Women’s League weekend at Mgarr Ground (16:30). Denis Guerra is relishing the opportunity to continue the team’s winning form against Lija, but Jethron Azzopardi has readied his troops with a sharpened attack.
Recent Form & Initiating The Final Phase
Valletta head into the final phase leading the league section, having done the double over San Gwann at the end of the second round. Losing Lexine Farrugia to Sampdoria, and Leah Ayres to Hibernians during the summer, things could have been quite difficult in attack for the former ‘Raiders’ team. Marcelle’s departure in January may have rocked the boat after the Brazilian topped the team’s goalscoring list this season. However, several players have been stepping up and getting themselves on the scoresheet, pushing Valletta’s steadily building train along.
The Citizens emerged victorious for the second time against San Gwann thanks to a brace by Miriana Conti, who added herself to the growing list of goalscorers for the team this year. Asked about her contributions, Valletta’s coach Denis Guerra said, “It’s always nice for a coach to have more players that can compete as a certain level. Miriana has been a player that us coaches always have known the qualities that she has and she stood up in this match to score two good goals. It’s important for a coach to have a number of players who can do this and Miriana is one of them.”
Valletta go into the match favourites based on winning the two encounters before it. However, both matches displayed good action at both sides. Denis Guerra is expecting another exciting encounter, “With Lija it’s always a good match, a real football match which I like. Both teams are trying their best, training hard and I expect another interesting match. Despite winning the first two matches, it does not mean that this one will be easy. It’s always a battle that we have to start from the first minute. So I hope it will be a good match, but of course naturally I also hope that in the end it will be a positive result for us.”
Meanwhile, Lija Athletic have been steadily building their way in the league. They ended the second round in a 3-0 defeat to Swieqi United, which although leaving them empty handed in points, was an improved scoreline for the team. Lija Athletic’s Jethron Azzopardi remarked the progress, “Against Swieqi, the team displayed a positive performance and we were dangerous at times also. This built confidence ahead of the game against Valletta. We are prepared to display a good game.”
Indeed, the team had good opportunities to shoot against Swieqi United, but it appeared that Vanessa Honorio Carneiro favoured holding up the ball for more support. This appears to be something that the team is addressing ahead of these matches where goals will be crucial to put points on the board against direct rivals. Jethron Azzopardi explained, “Vanessa was hesitant to shoot in the last game against Swieqi, but we worked on it this week and she is now ready to react in those situations.”
Guerra Explains Martins’ Absence, Azzopardi Discusses Discipline
Valletta’s Brazilian summer signing Eduarda Martins Souza has been a key figure in midfield this year, while also bagging key goals from set-pieces for the Citizens. The Brazilian has been absent from the team in the past two games, but the side will be boosted by her return this week.
Probed about her absence, coach Denis Guerra explained that her performances caught the eyes away from Maltese shores, “Eduarda did well in the first four months in Malta. She was called for a trial in Italy. She did well and got a good experience now away from Brazil, not only in Malta but also in Italy. The dream that started with Starscout is continuing, so we are happy.”
Meanwhile, away from football, one story that captured the attention for all the wrong reasons this week was a physical altercation that broke out in the Enemed Women’s Futsal League match between Mtarfa and Santa Margherita Futsal. It is understood that the respective authorities have handed the players involved will be facing a lengthy ban.
The incident involved some players within Jethron Azzopardi’s football team at Lija Athletic, amid others hailing from other teams. Although the actions in futsal are certainly beyond Azzopardi’s remit, the coach was asked to give some insight into the principles that he sets in the dressing room to avoid such behaviour being displayed on the football pitch.
Azzopardi was stern in his response, “What happened in the futsal game is shameful and beyond sportsmanship. I am strict in this regard and against violence. Such behaviour has to be punished. I was clear from day one that I won’t tolerate such actions.”
The two teams will be fully focused on earning three points as they take to the pitch at Mgarr Ground at 16:30, following the top-four encounter between Swieqi United and Hibernians (14:00).
Lead Images: Lara Schembri
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