by The Greens earned the first win of the calendar year and under the interim coaching regime, by downing Swieqi by 3-2. Swieqi’s Jade Flask broke the deadlock, scoring her first senior goal since returning from injury. Yulya Carella evened things and grabbed the third goal, with Fernanda Peinado splitting the two goals with a spectacular strike. Salamatu Abdulai got Swieqi United’s second late on, but the Owls could not recover the point.
Team Selections
Mgarr United’s Patricia Ebejer retained her place in goal. Leanne Cefai continued partnering Chantelle Grech, however there was a change in the full-backs with Anastasia Sivolobova and Rebecca Bajada occupying the positions. The Greens made a change to a diamond in midfield, with captain Maia Debono in its base. Luana Cabral and Brenda Borg provided the width, while Yulya Carella occupied the number ten position. Joelma Alves Gabriel returned from injury in alongside Kayah Abela Sciberras, although the Brazilian occupied a more fluid role.
There was no Saviour Darmanin in the technical area, instead replaced by the figure of Dorianne Theuma. Patricia Araujo started in goal, protected by an unchanged defence in Jade Schembri, Tammy Falzon, Rafanny Abache Mendoza and Jessica Dimech. Shona Zammit took the captain’s armband and started alongside Michaela Cachia. Salamatu Abdulai occupied the number ten position, with Karima Abdulai and Mariah Sciberras on the wings. Jade Flask was the central striker.
A Goal Apiece
The two teams set out to make their mark in an eventful opening half. Swieqi United created their first real chance three minutes into the match as Karima Abdulai headed forward for compatriot Salamatu Abdulai to run onto behind the defensive line. However, Patricia Ebejer was quickly off her line to collect.
Mgarr responded with Joelma Alves Gabriel linking with Brenda Borg, who carried the ball behind the defence. However, the number seventy-seven overran the ball with a heavy touch while dribbling the goalkeeper who came out to meet her.
With things tightly poised, Swieqi United broke the deadlock in the fifth minute. Karima Abdulai crossed into the box, and although an attempt to head the ball away at the far post was made, the clearance instead found Jade Flask set in the edge round the six-yard box. The striker placed the shot which deflected into the right side of the net, sending Swieqi United into the lead.
The Greens were ready to fight back and created a good opportunity from a set-piece. Luana Cabral launched from midfield toward Joelma Alves Gabriel, who was completely unmarked at the far post. The Brazilian brought the ball under control but was back-tracking and the shot ultimately lacked the power to trouble Patricia Araujo.
Despite this, the attack continued to build confidence in the Greens who started enjoying the lion’s share of possession. However, they were rewarded in the 19th minute with a direct, route one approach. Leanne Cefai launched a well-weighted ball from defence towards Yulya Carella who ran behind the defence. Although Patricia Araujo got something on the shot, the power ultimately took it into the right corner of the goal and the teams back on level terms.
Tightly Poised
Both benches were animated in search of getting their noses in front and establishing control. Key battles ensued, with Karima Abdulai attempting to get the better of Rebecca Bajada, while Maia Debono was seeking to support the centre defence in marshalling Salamatu Abdulai and Jade Flask.
Swieqi United struggled to combine at the head of the attack, while Mgarr United grew in confidence and attempted to make the most of a number of set-pieces. The team fashioned a good chance close to the half-hour mark as Joelma Alves Gabriel rolled her marker and fired a left boot across, but the ball skimmed wide. Yulya Carella also tested Patricia Araujo from distance but the goalkeeper back-peddled well to get behind it.
Meanwhile, the Owls were thwarted from a corner kick through Maia Debono, who cleared the delivery. However, they developed a good break into the 35th minute, as Jessica Dimech released Jade Flask on the left wing. The number eight took one look in the box, but with no one in support opted to go for a powerful shot against Patricia Ebejer, despite the tight angle. The goalkeeper parried into the path of Mariah Sciberras who was arriving in the box, but her shot was blocked. Mgarr United sprang the counter-attack but Shona Zammit recovered well.
The Greens were spared a moment in defence as a cleared ball ricocheted into Karima Abdulai and luckily went out of play. Swieqi United came back with a half chance as Salamatu Abdulai attempted to flick one over for Jade Flask to run onto, but Chantelle Grech took care of the situation. The Owls also broke quickly through Salamatu Abdulai who powered past two opponents but the low cross was intercepted by Patricia Ebejer, denying Karima Abdulai the tap in.
Half-Time Score: Mgarr United 1 – 1 Swieqi United
Mgarr United Fire Themselves Into The Lead
Dorianne Theuma made the only change at the break, bringing on Kaysia Micallef on the right wing. Jade Schembri made way, while Mariah Sciberras retreated into the right-back position. Meanwhile, for Mgarr United Joelma Alves Gabriel was the first to give way ten minutes into the half, replaced by compatriot Fernanda Peinado.
The two teams took some time to get back into their stride as the second half ensued. Shona Zammit fired a long-range effort close to the hour mark, but the strike flew just off target from the top right corner. Despite this, it fired some forward momentum in the team to develop a good opportunity a couple of minutes later. Jade Flask was released behind onto the left side of the box once more. The striker attempted to find the far corner, but although she beat the goalkeeper, Chantelle Grech cleared the ball from the goal-mouth to keep the teams level.
The chance appeared to inject more zest into Mgarr United, who nudged in front just three minutes later. Rebecca Bajada dispossessed Karima Abdulai, and passed to Brenda Borg who was in space in midfield. She released Fernanda Peinado who blasted a rocket of a left-footed effort from the edge of the box into the roof of the net to send Mgarr United into the lead for the first time this calendar year.
Swieqi United appeared rattled to go down a goal and struggled to link well. As the Greens dropped deeper into a low-block, the Owls fell more into the habit of firing long-range efforts, which suited Mgarr United.
A swap in the wings ensued with Kaysia Micallef going onto the left side and Karima Abdulai onto the right, seemingly with the intention of firing crosses, but there was little to aim for in the box with limited runners from midfield. Despite winning a number of free-kick opportunities to launch the ball into the box, deliveries did not trouble the Greens’ defence, while Patricia Ebejer was happy to collect whatever landed her way.
On the other hand, the Greens picked their spots to go on the attack, with Yulya Carella firing from distance toward the left corner three minutes from time. Commotion ensued as Patricia Araujo made a save, with Luana Cabral following with another low shot that the Brazilian also got to. However, the officials deemed the initial strike from Carella to have gone beyond the line, thus awarding Mgarr the goal to the elation of the support and the bench, and the dismay of those in orange.
Despite going two goals down, Swieqi United responded with a goal back just on the 90th minute mark. Jessica Dimech burst up the left wing and delivered a cross toward the far post, finding Salamatu Abdulai who did not miss from close range.
Swieqi United went all out into attack in search of the equaliser and salvaging a point, but Mgarr United were in comfortable game management mode to ensure a return to winning ways and a first win for the coaching regime.
Final Score: Mgarr United 3 – 2 Swieqi United
Standings & Next Matches
Mgarr United take their tally to 29 points, reducing the gap to Hibernians to six points following the latter’s defeat to Birkirkara later in the afternoon. Meanwhile, Swieqi United retain second-place but find themselves seven points adrift from the leaders following the results of the weekend.
The Greens will prepare to start the second round against Birkirkara on Friday 9th at the Victor Tedesco Stadium (20:30). Meanwhile, Swieqi United will seek a return to winning ways to consolidate second place against Hibernians on Saturday (10th) at Dingli Ground, 14:00.
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[…] but managed to turn things around against Swieqi United last week, to come back from a goal down to win the match by 3-2. The victory marked the first under the new coaching regime, which was doubly rewarded as […]