Mgarr United and Hibernians Share The Spoils In Six-Goal Frenzy

The match between Mgarr United and Hibernians was tipped to be the pick of the bunch prior to the weekend and it did not disappoint. Although the lighting in the venue is still sub-par, the players on display lit up the spectacle which ended 3-3 in Dingli. Leah Ayres grabbed the match ball with all three-goals for the Paolites. Mgarr United’s Fernanda Peinado sealed her debut with a goal, while Joelma Alves Gabriel secured the draw with her first goal in the Greens’ colours. An own goal by Alessia Caschetto separated the two strikes.

How The Teams Stacked Up

Michael Mangion stuck with Patricia Ebejer in goal for the Greens. Rebecca Bajada shifted to the right-back role, while Abigail Camilleri retained charge of the left. It was captain Maia Debono who partnered Anastasia Sivolobova in defence, with Chantelle Grech preferred as the defensive midfielder in front of them. Luana Cabral debuted in the centre of the park as a box-to-box midfielder, alongside Joelma Alves Gabriel who pulled the strings alongside her. Yulya Carella and Rodiana Borg provided the width, whilst Fernanda Peinado debuted at the top.

Meanwhile, Hibernians rolled back the years with veteran Sharon Costantino standing in goal. As mentioned in the pre-match interview, Keith Gouder handed Natalee Geren her debut from the start. She slotted next to Amy Busuttil, while the full-backs were unchanged in Chloe Ellul and Alessia Caschetto. Nicole Sciberras continued to partner Kayleigh Chetcuti in the centre of midfield. Sarah Urpani provided the width on the left, while Alexis Espitia took the right. Captain Martina Borg supported the central striker, Leah Ayres.

Hibernians Open The Scoring

The match kicked off with the intensity that is usually expected from the encounter. Both sides exchanged opening blows but it was Hibernians who looked to be the more settled earlier on. Nicole Sciberras and Kayleigh Chetcuti were finding space and fizzing balls towards the forwards to run behind but Patricia Ebejer was early to the ball.

The Greens started to slowly get up the field around ten minutes into the half, which saw Rodiana Borg link well with Fernanda Peinado, who was allowed to run forward before switching play to Yulya Carella. Although the cross was dealt with, penalty appeals that followed for an apparent hands ball by the Hibs defence shortly after, were waived away by the referee. Shortly after the Greens won a free-kick on the right wing, which saw Joelma Alves Gabriel deploy toward Abigail Camilleri who managed the flick, but Hibernians recovered.

At the other end, an errant goal-kick was almost capitalised on by Leah Ayres, but the Greens were let of the hook as the striker pulled it wide. Hibernians’ first real chance developed a few minutes later when Alexis Espitia found Nicole Sciberras, who had made a darting run from midfield. However, Hibs’ number twenty had a tight angle to deal with and her shot was parried away by Ebejer.

However, Hibernians fully capitalised on their momentum a minute later, opening the scoring in the eighteenth minute. Sarah Urpani rattled the crossbar with a shot from just outside the penalty box, before Leah Ayres hit the rebound to grab her first of the night.

Although, the Greens managed to release Peinado on the wing, her cross toward Joelma Alves Gabriel was dealt with by Hibernians’ centre-backs who were determined not to give an inch to the Brazilian. Continuing in the same vein of end-to-end action, a couple of minutes later Alexis Espitia was fouled on the edge of the box. However, Kayleigh Chetcuti’s attempt was dealt with by the wall, denying her a perfect birthday.

Mgarr United Regain Footing

The Greens’ debutant Luana Cabral really started to turn the cogs in midfield close to half an hour play. Although Hibernians’ Nicole Sciberras did not let her stray too far away from her eyesight, the Brazilian grew into the match and Mgarr United took flight as she started to link with her compatriot Joelma Alves Gabriel.

The equalising goal came following a free-kick routine after Rebecca Bajada had been brought down. Joelma Alves Gabriel took the short route toward Carella, whose cross from the wing was cleared by Hibernians. However, Luana Cabral was first to the ball, backheeling it back to Joelma Alves Gabriel who struck low and true. Although Sharon Costantino saved the strike, she could not make it hers and Fernanda Peinado struck the rebound to level the score.

As expected the game’s intensity went up another notch. Battles ensued in every part of the pitch though the midfield was highly contested with the quadruple of Chantelle Grech, Luana Cabral, Kayleigh Chetcuti and Nicole Sciberras leaving more than an impression on each other. On the wings, Rebecca Bajada and Sarah Urpani, as well as Abigail Camilleri and Alexis Espitia were two other engrossing rivalries.

Having been thrown into the fire in the Hibernians’ defence, Natalee Geren did not just shine in her defensive skills, but also showed her vision to pick out Sarah Urpani in the thirty-seventh minute. Hibs’ number eight cut inside and struck on the volley but Patricia Ebejer was well positioned to make the save.

Half-Time Score: Mgarr United 1 – 1 Hibernians

Quick Double Sets Hibernians Back On Track

The Paolites wasted no time getting back into the lead as the second half kicked on. Alexis Espitia cut inside and played a through ball for Leah Ayres, who placed into the bottom right-hand corner to nudge Hibernians back into the lead.

She kept up her top notch finishing to complete the hattrick five minutes later with a bullet of a shot that nestled into the near top corner from distance, extending Hibernians lead to 1-3. It saw Espitia link well with the new recruit once more after winning the ball in midfield.

Greens Comeback Despite Hibs’ Pressure

Having fallen to a two-goal deficit saw portions of the Greens’ support deflate but the players on the pitch had other ideas and kept their resolve to get something from the match. They were aided on their way back when a cross from the left wing was miscued by Hibernians’ Alessia Caschetto who ended up lobbing Costantino and putting it into her own net, 2-3.

The end-to-end action ensued, with several players attempting to take the initiative to get their team into goalscoring positions. Not happy with the one-goal lead, Amy Busuttil made a run from defence past two players before releasing into Alexis Espitia. Although she found Kayleigh Chetcuti on the wing, Rodiana Borg marshalled her out of play. Shortly after, a real chance developed as Alexis Espitia linked well with captain Martina Borg, but she dragged it wide. Another chance developed as Borg released Ayres on the right wing but the shot was easy enough for Ebejer to gather. Debutant Geren kept fizzing dangerous balls into the penalty box from any deep free-kick opportunity, but the Paolites were unable to increase to their tally.

The Greens kept churning out the chances. In one attempt, Joelma Alves Gabriel’s delivery was flicked by Grech toward Cabral who blasted a shot on the volley but it flew above the crossbar. Mgarr United’s new number three also struck true from a long-distance free-kick but was wide of the mark. Meanwhile, the Greens kept trying to make use of the pace out wide with Anastasia Sivolobova releasing Carella. Though the young winger won a corner, Costantino made it hers.

Fernanda Peinado tested Costantino from distance shortly after but the veteran was aware of the threat. However, the Greens could not be denied for much longer and Joelma Alves Gabriel levelled things in the seventy-seventh minute. She took charge of a free-kick opportunity after being brought down and struck. Although Costantino got two palms on, she could not deny the Brazilian her first goal in Mgarr United colours, with the latter being engulfed by the Greens.

The final minutes of the match saw Keith Gouder bring on Martina Cortis in replacement of captain Martina Borg. On the opposite bench, Michael Mangion freshened up the attack by bringing on Shakira Camilleri and Daniela Said Ebejer in replacement of Joelma Alves Gabriel and Rodiana Borg, respectively. The two sides kept up the pace until the last minutes, but neither were able to get the winning goal.

Full-Time Score: Mgarr United 3 – 3 Hibernians

Next Matches

Having taken to their tally to four points, the two sides will set sight on their next encounters. Hibernians will welcome Lija Athletic who will be buoyant from also notching their first points against San Gwann. The two will meet on Friday 8th September at the Centenary Stadium under the lights (20:45).

Meanwhile, Mgarr United will face Valletta at 6 pm in the first of a double-header on Saturday 9th at Dingli Ground. The match will clash with the UEFA Women’s League fixture taking place at the Centenary Stadium between FC Zurich and the winner of Wednesday’s tie between Birkirkara and Breznica.

Stay up to date by following The Sporting Fan on social media: Instagram ~ Facebook ~ X