Mgarr & Swieqi Dry Up In Final Phase Opener

Mgarr United and Swieqi United could not clinch the three points in their encounter, with the score remaining 0 – 0. Swieqi United came closest, denied by the woodwork three times, but could not find the winning goal.

Team Selections

Giulia D’Antuono was trusted between the posts for Mgarr United by Ryan Vella. Rebecca Bajada returned to the starting eleven in a back-three with Leanne Cefai and Abigail Camilleri, who captained the side. Maia Debono and Amber Grech continued their partnership, while Yanina Mendez and Alejandra Villegas Caly operated on the wings. Yulya Carella supported Luz Hernandez and Valeria Villegas Caly in attack.

Meanwhile, Dorianne Theuma trusted Patricia Araujo in goal for Swieqi United. Miriana Conti started alongside Rafanny Mendoza Abache, while Emma Xuereb and Jade Schembri continued to operate as full-backs. The diamond in midfield continued to be composed of Michaela Cachia, captain Shona Zammit, Sarah Urpani and Ema Micallef. Salamatu Abdulai and Karima Abdulai started in attack.

How It Unfolded

Having met just a week before, the two sides were fresh on what they were dealing with. The two were stuck in exchanging possession and struggling to open up real opportunities early on.

However, Swieqi United looked to capitalise on a couple opportunities as the quarter hour mark approached. Salamatu Abdulai caused trouble for Mgarr’s defence winning the one-on-one battle on pace, but the left-footed effort lacked the control, clattering into the near post.

The team pushed to capitalise on corner opportunities. Shona Zammit also picked out Rafanny Mendoza Abache at the far post, with the Venezuelan heading it into the six-yard box. Mgarr almost authored their downfall with a clearance that clattered into the crossbar, but went out, before the Greens survived the next delivery.

Salamatu Abdulai was released once more behind the defence, but it was another chance gone begging as the shot lacked any curl to find the target.

Mgarr United relied heavily on Luz Hernandez’s ability to win the ball in the air, with the Argentinian often winning the battle. However, the side struggled to break down the Swieqi United defence, while Patricia Araujo was quick off her line to sweep whenever opportune. Ryan Vella swapped his wingers shortly after in search of giving his attack another look.

The officials went directly into the line of fire with Swieqi United’s Salamatu Abdulai hitting the deck and not awarded a free-kick. The complete indecision from the assistants continued to show the exact level at which the Assikura Women’s League is ranked in the footballing pyramid domestically.

At the other end, Mgarr United earned a corners, with Maia Debono striking goalward but finding Patricia Araujo equal to it. She immediately set off Swieqi United on the counter-attack. However, Rebecca Bajada nudged the ball toward Giulia D’Antuono to thwart the attack.

The half hour approached with the two hanging in the balance and little to shout for as both sides continued to nullify each other’s threat to deny domination. The game appeared to need some spark, which Emma Xuereb attempted to inject with a few forward runs. However, the Greens were ready to deny the momentum. Amber Grech won a tussle against Shona Zammit before placing a direct ball for Alejandra Villegas Caly to chase behind. However, Patricia Araujo was alert to sweep once more.

Swieqi United attempted to break the deadlock from corner deliveries. Giulia D’Antuono dealt with the first. The Owls hit the post again as Shona Zammit floated another delivery toward Rafanny Mendoza Abache, who directed the header toward the far post. The Venezuelan put her heading ability to action at the other end to deal with a floated delivery from Rebecca Bajada shortly after, before Patricia Araujo dealt with the resulting corner.

The second half kicked off with a good string of possession from Swieqi United, with Ema Micallef dinking it for Karima Abdulai to take into her stride behind the Greens’ defence. However, Leanne Cefai did enough to throw off the Ghanaian. Key battles continued to ensue with Karima Abdulai winning out against Rebecca Bajada to cut-back a pass to Ema Micallef who drove the first-time shot but was wide of the mark.

Set-piece opportunties racked up for the Greens, but they could not capitalise, while Amber Grech let loose a shot from distance, but found Patricia Araujo ready to collect. The side grew in transition with Valeria Villegas Caly released wide. However, she found Rafanny Mendoza Abache ready to clear once more.

Ryan Vella attempted to spark creativity in attack, deploying Brenda Borg instead of Yulya Carella, while the two coaches injected more instructions from the dugout in search of tilting the balance.

Swieqi United’s Shona Zammit earned the side a real opportunity as she made the most of a clip by Brenda Borg just outside the penalty box. Ema Micallef drove the attempt with pace toward the right post, but found Giulia D’Antuono ready to save.

Ryan Vella made a second switch for the final quarter of the hour, with Veronique Mifsud taking to the pitch instead of Alejandra Villegas Caly. Kayah Abela Sciberras was trusted in defence instead of Rebecca Bajada later on. Swieqi’s Dorianne Theuma made her only change an attacking one. Jade Flask made a return to the pitch since the first meet between the two sides in attack, while Sarah Urpani gave way, resulting in a shift in positions for Ema Micallef and Salamatu Abdulai.

Spaces opened up more as the final minutes approached, but the two teams continued lacking the precision to tilt the balance of the match.

Final-Score: Mgarr United 0 – 0 Swieqi United

Standings & Next Matches

The two sides remain separated by just one point. Swieqi United equal Birkirkara on 32 points, while Mgarr remain in fourth on 31 points. Hibernians extended their tally to 36 points with their 4 – 3 victory against Birkirkara earlier in the afternoon.

The top four return on Saturday 25th, with Birkirkara and Swieqi United kicking things off at 14:00, before Hibernians and Mgarr United battle it out at 16:30. Both matches will be played at Dingli Ground.

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