Mgarr Exhibit Wealth In Options With Victory Over Lija

Mgarr United secured a comfortable victory by 5-0 against Lija Athletic. Rebecca Bajada broke the deadlock, before a quartet of first goals in the Green shirt were registered by Veronique Mifsud, Yanina Mendez, Valeria Villegas Caly and Elisa Xuereb, to complete the scoring. Brenda Borg and Leanne Cefai were denied by the woodwork.

Team Selections

Patricia Ebejer was trusted in goal for Mgarr United. Abigail Camilleri returned to the starting eleven, in a back-three with Leanne Cefai and Rebecca Bajada. Yulya Carella and Yanina Mendez were deployed on the wing, pushing high into the attack. Captain Brenda Borg started in midfield with the also returning Maia Debono and Veronique Mifsud, while Amber Grech was deployed from the start. The attack was spearheaded by Valeria Villegas Caly.

Lija Athletic’s Christiana Pisani kept her place in goal, behind a back-five of Mariah Schembri, Samira Bouzid, Sarah Caruana, Nell Zarb Cousin and Shakira Bugeja. Edera Marmara and Leanne Micallef started out wide, while Kylie Pantelleresco returned in midfield alongside captain Rachel Mifsud. Vanessa Honorio Carneiro was the lone attacker.

How It Unfolded

The onus was on Mgarr United to open up the Lija Athletic defence, with the team in blue all in their own half looking to maintain their shape and frustrate the Greens.

Mgarr United piled bodies forward, earning themselves several set-piece opportunities. However, the first real warning sign from open play arrived after the quarter-hour mark as Valeria Villegas Caly was released with a direct through ball by Brenda Borg. However, the Colombian threaded carefully into the box, with Christiana Pisani ultimately gathering the ball.

Despite this, Lija Athletic did not pass the moment unscathed, as Sarah Caruana got caught in the aftermath, which ended her involvement. She was directly replaced by Milena Stagno.

Mgarr United’s Brenda Borg rattled the post just two minutes later, latching onto a release from Amber Grech, but finding only the post with the side-footed effort.

On their part, Lija Athletic picked their opportunities to try to venture forward, with Vanessa Honorio Carneiro doing well to hold-up play, while continuing to earn the side a few free-kicks.

However, the opportunity to go forward cost dearly for the side in blue in the 24th minute as Mgarr United broke the deadlock with a quick transition. Amber Grech released Brenda Borg who drove forward into the box, shirking the challenge from her marker, before playing the cross. Rebecca Bajada made no mistake from the six yard box, tapping home the goal at the far post unmarked.

The Greens continued pushing forward with good play to open up the defence, but lacking the finishing touch to add to their tally until the 40th minute. This time it was Veronique Mifsud who grabbed her first goal in the Green shirt. The midfielder was released with a weighted ball by Amber Grech, with Mgarr United’s number ten placing home into the bottom left corner.

The game of ‘roll around on the floor and win a free-kick’ continued to persist with referee Stefania Bonnici happy to blow the whistle. However, the official took no prisoners, booking Vanessa Honorio Carneiro in the 45th minute.

Despite unable to trouble from the resulting free-kick, Mgarr United made it three in injury time courtesy of Yanina Mendez who also grabbed her first goal in the league. She finished the rebound from close range after Christiana Pisani had saved an initial effort by Valeria Villegas Caly, with Rebecca Bajada delivering a cross from the right-wing.

Half-Time Score: Mgarr United 3 – 0 Lija Athletic

There were no changes at the break, while the cards started to be dished out with less restraint as the half wore on. Nell Zarb Cousin was the first to land in the book, but Veronique Mifsud’s effort from distance was gathered easily enough by Christiana Pisani. The goalkeeper continued to be called into action, also forced to parry a sweetly struck effort by Brenda Borg, that was heading into the far corner of the net with venom.

Lija Athletic had a rare drive forward through Leanne Micallef, who switched play to Edera Marmara’. However, she lacked composure with the cross, with the attack fizzling away.

Both coaches looked to their benches as the hour mark elapsed. Leanne Micallef gave way to Katryna Grech, while Isabel Sanchez Bacaicoa debuted in replacement of Rachel Mifsud. Nell Zarb Cousin was trusted with the captain’s armband.

Meanwhile, the Greens made a triple swap, with all three goal-scorers giving way in straight swaps. Yanina Mendez was replaced by Rodiana Borg, Rebecca Bajada gave way to Maria Mizzi, while Veronique Mifsud was replaced by Elisa Xuereb who made her first appearance in a Green shirt against the former team.

Having had frustrating afternoons in the league thus far, Valeria Villegas Caly secured her first competitive goal with the club in the 70th minute, making it four for Mgarr United. Yulya Carella’s attempt at an acrobatic finish was blocked, with the ball ricocheting into the path of the Colombian, who struck first time from the edge of the box to find the bottom left corner of the goal.

Further changes ensued from Mgarr United’s Ryan Vella as Julia Egging was handed her debut in the shirt in a swap with Brenda Borg, while Daniela Said Ebejer replaced Maia Debono. Said Ebejer slotted on the right wing, pushing Yulya Carella into midfield.

Despite the introduction of substitutions, the energy in the match fizzed away with the scoreline settled. Lija Athletic still attempted to close spaces, but there was nothing to shout for going forward, despite Jethron Azzopardi deploying pace up front. However, there was no surprise with time-wasting tactics having taken centre-stage as early as the restart whistle.

Still, Mgarr United’s substitutes managed to combine to earn the fifth and final goal for the team, giving Ryan Vella something to think about for the next matches. Elisa Xuereb settled the score with a tap in from close range against last year’s teammates. Julia Egging helped it on from an initial cross from the wing.

Leanne Cefai attempted to make it six late on, linking with a free-kick delivery by Amber Grech, but was denied by the woodwork.

Final Score: Mgarr United 5 – 0 Lija Athletic

Next Matches

Mgarr United make it their second win in succession this season to keep up the chase, while Lija Athletic suffer a second straight big defeat.

Mgarr United will take the confidence into the next match where they face Swieqi United at Dingli Ground on Saturday 12th at 15:00. Lija Athletic will seek to regain their initial spark before facing Hibernians on the same day and place, with their match starting at 17:30.

However, before then this afternoon presents the final two matches in the weekend, with Hibernians welcoming San Gwann at 15:00, before Mtarfa face Swieqi United (17:30). Both matches will be played at Mgarr Ground.

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