by Mgarr United kicked off the calendar year with a 5 – 0 victory against Valletta. Brenda Borg got things going, netting a brace together with Valeria Villegas Caly. Yulya Carella also got herself on the scoresheet, with the side also denied by the woodwork on two occasions.
Team Selections
Dorienne Grech started the year in goal for Valletta. Ilona Sultana partnered Sarah Micallef in defence, with Lorna-Maria Cassar and Kristina Zammit offering the width. Shakira Bugeja anchored the midfield, with Eliza Csik and Ulani Belkis for company. Captain Joelma Alves Gabriel led the line, with Ines Mohamed and debutant Daisy Reino.
Giulia D’Antuono protected Mgarr United’s goal. Rebecca Bajada and Yanina Mendez flanked the partnership of Leanne Cefai and Maia Debono in defence. Brenda Borg captained the side, starting midfield alongside Amber Grech. Alejandra Villegas Caly pulled the strings behind Valeria Villegas Valy, with Ines N’Guessan and Yulya Carella offering the width.
How It Unfolded
Mgarr United were in on goal inside the fourth minute, with an opportunity to strike from the six-yard box. However, the impact of the break was evident with the finish blasted centrally against some brave last-ditch blocking from Valletta.
It set the tone for the opening half, with Mgarr United pummelling the Valletta goal, but struggling to break the deadlock through a combination of last-ditch defending, wayward finishing and a crossbar that teased Alejandra Villegas Caly.
Valletta struggled to get out from their half, with a rare breather in the 27th minute allowing Shakira Bugeja to launch upfield from midfield. However, the Greens returned fire on the counter. Amber Grech put it on a plate for Valeria Villegas Caly, but the Colombian was wide with the finish once more.
However, Brenda Borg stepped up on the half-hour mark with composure to get the team ahead. The midfielder made an unmarked run into the box and found with a deflected cut-back, she took the time to place a low shot into the left corner of the goal to open the scoring.
Valletta struggled to contain the Greens from then on, with three more goals arriving in the next ten minutes. Yulya Carella tapped home the finish at the far post from a ground cross delivered by Brenda Borg.
The skipper was doubled her tally on the night, notching the third for Mgarr in the 37th minute. This time, Alejandra Villegas Caly came up with the smart through ball to find Borg’s run behind in the box, with the midfielder shifting it onto her left foot against the one-against-one forced by Dorienne Grech, before slotting it into the bottom left corner.
Valeria Villegas Caly made it four in the 39th minute, with another cut-back delivered by Alejandra Villegas Caly to cement Valletta’s misery.
Eliza Csik offered some breathing room with a midfield dart, earning the foul from Amber Grech to get Valletta up the pitch. However, the Greens defence was unfazed until the half-time whistle.
Half-Time Score: Valletta 0 – 4 Mgarr United
Both coaches used their bench at the break. Valletta’s Sarah Fenech and Carla Giles stepped onto the pitch instead of Kristina Zammit and Ulani Belkis. Meanwhile, Ylenia Debono replaced Leanne Cefai in defence, with Shania Spiteri also coming onto the pitch instead of Yulya Carella. Giulia D’Antuono made way for Patricia Ebejer in goal.
The Greens were looking to pick up where they left off, with Rebecca Bajada continuing to offer an outlet on the wing. She fizzed a cross onto the head of Valeria Villegas Caly, but Dorienne Grech was equal to it. Shania Spiteri was next to try to curl one at the far right post moments later, but she was wide of the mark.
Still the Greens found the fifth in the 57th minute, with Valeria Villegas Caly sliding the finish into the net from inside the six-yard box, with another cut-back this time by delivered Ines N’Guessan.
The match took a turn with Joelma Alves Gabriel and Amber Grech getting in each other’s heads, forcing referee Raymond Tabone to get involved.
Both coaches continued to rotate, with Ryan Vella introducing Maria Mizzi and Paula Ciappara instead of Yanina Mendez and Ines N’Guessan. Meanwhile, Anton Cremona released Hannah Fenech instead of Daisy Reino.
The Greens kept up the chase for more, with Shakira Bugeja delivering a last-gasp clearance off the line, before Rebecca Bajada was next to be denied by the crossbar following a corner. Chances piled, but the finishing continued to elude the Greens from adding to their tally.
The Citizens on their part had rare sights of goal with Hannah Fenech & Ines Mohamed combining to deliver a ball into the box. However, Joelma Alves Gabriel miscued the connection on that occasion with Mgarr United clearing to safety.
There was one last gasp for a one-against-one, with Maia Debono making a well-timed tackle as the last player against Ines Mohammed to keep Patricia Ebejer untroubled. In one of the final actions of the night, Joelma Alves Gabriel tested Patricia Ebejer from distance in a hopeful shot, but saw the ball land just behind the net, settling for a goalless night.
Final Score: Valletta 0 – 5 Mgarr United
Standings & Next Matches
The Greens continue their winning march at the top of the table with the victory. They will next meet San Gwann on Saturday 24th at 18:00 at Dingli Ground. Meanwhile, Valletta will return to action against Hibernians on Friday 23rd at the Charles Abela Stadium 20:30.
This Saturday will feature a double-header at the Charles Abela Stadium as Birkirkara take on Hibernians at 14:00, followed by the encounter between Swieqi United and San Gwann (16:30).
Assikura Women's League - Standings
Lead Image: Michael Azzopardi
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