Mgarr United Bounce Back With Victory Over San Gwann

The Greens dominated the encounter earning themselves a 7-0 win over San Gwann. Fernanda Peinado registered a hat-trick, split by goals from Luana Vitoria Cabral and Chantelle Grech, all scored before the break. Rodiana Borg and substitute Daniela Said Ebejer completed the scoring in the second half. San Gwann’s night turned more sour after earning two red cards in the latter portions of the match.

Line-Ups

Mgarr United’s Patricia Ebejer retained her place in goal. There were no changes in defence as captain Maia Debono continued to partner Anastasia Sivolobova, while Abigail Camilleri and Rebecca Bajada provided the width. Chantelle Grech continued to act as the single pivot, this time to Brenda Borg and Joelma Alves Gabriel. Rodiana Borg returned to the starting eleven on the left, while Yulya Carella dropped to the bench. Luana Vitoria Cabral started on the right wing in her stead, while Fernanda Peinado was the central striker.

Meanwhile, San Gwann’s Justyne Caruana continued her stay in goal. Annabelle Rapa dropped to the bench with Kirstie Vella taking the captain’s armband. She was supported by Tracy Axiak and Nicole Saliba in defence. Rabab Mhalli and Maria Ibrahim started on the flanks, while Francesca Zarb, Chanice Grixti and Chaimaa Tourki occupied the centre of the park. In attack, Shania Gheiti was partnered by Yasmin Attard.

The Greens Hit The Ground Running

The first encounter between the two this season was locked level for long periods, but Mgarr United were having none of that this time round. The Greens opened the scoring within the first minute of the match as Luana Vitoria Cabral looped a cross toward her compatriot Fernanda Peinado. The Brazilian headed goalward to open the scoring from the far post.

The Greens kept up the pressure and attempted to add to their tally from a corner. However, Chantelle Grech was unable to keep the header down at the far post. Nicole Saliba thwarted an attack as Mgarr United attempted to get Luana Vitoria Cabral behind, while Fernanda Peinado saw a strike skim wide of the post.

San Gwann attempted to relieve some pressure with Chaimaa Tourki trying to release Yasmin Attard behind the defence. However, Patricia Ebejer read the play and cleared the lines.

The Greens kept up their attacking intensity with Rebecca Bajada, Joelma Alves Gabriel and Abigail all registering shots from distance but unable to trouble the goalkeeper. Bajada looked to pick out a teammate with a cross but Kirstie Vella cleared to safety, before Shania Gheiti attempted to release Yasmin Attard on a counter-attack. However, the miscommunication between the two handed possession back to the Greens.

Mgarr United struck the second from a corner in the thirteenth minute. Having come close from the routine earlier, Rodiana Borg picked out Chantelle Grech who this time got herself on the scoresheet with the ball hitting the crossbar and going in. There was some hesitation from the officials due to it being close to the line but the linesman confirmed the goal.

San Gwann appeared to be onto something as Yasmin Attard managed to ride multiple challenges from the Mgarr United defence. The attacker was supported well by Shania Gheiti, with Attard registering a strike on the return pass, but Patricia Ebejer was untroubled.

Mgarr Extend Lead

The Greens slotted-in the third on the quarter-hour mark. Fernanda Peinado pressed high forcing an error in the San Gwann defensive line. The Brazilian crossed from the byline, picking out Luana Vitoria Cabral who made it three with a tap-in at the far post.

Despite trailing by this scoreline, San Gwann attempted to get some rhythm into their game into the twenty-minue mark as Kirstie Vella delivered to Maria Ibrahim from a set-piece, following which Rabab Mhalli attempted to release Shania Gheiti. However, Patricia Ebejer was alert to the danger once more.

Still unsatisfied with their lead, Mgarr United continued to attack. Brenda Borg made headway on the right wing, before crossing into the danger area but the ball fizzed just ahead of Rodiana Borg. Soon after, Chantelle Grech laid a pass into the number twelve to strike first time from the edge of the box, but the central strike was easy enough for Justyne Caruana. Joelma Alves Gabriel also had a couple of attempts forcing a save from the San Gwann goalkeeper.

It was instead Fernanda Peinado who added to the tally just two minutes shy of the half-hour mark. She controlled a cross from Rodiana Borg, before getting past her marker and finishing low into the far right corner for the team’s fourth.

Brenda Borg had a major opportunity to add to the tally soon after, as Joelma Alves Gabriel’s initial shot was blocked by Kirstie Vella but was deflected into the path of Borg. However, with just the goalkeeper to beat, the number seventy-seven got underneath it with her left foot. Joelma Alves Gabriel’s attempt to pick out Brenda Borg a couple of minutes later with a cross was well read by Kirstie Vella.

The two sides had opportunities to counter-attack but neither could trouble the goalkeepers enough. Mgarr’s Brenda Borg was fouled on the edge of the box by Kirstie Vella, but Fernanda Peinado’s strike was saved by Justyne Caruana. The Greens were unable to trouble from the corner but came close again as Rodiana Borg delivered a cross into Fernanda Peinado whose tap in from close range was denied by Justyne Caruana.

Despite this, San Gwann could not deny Mgarr United another goal before the break. Brenda Borg tested the goalkeeper with a left-footed shot which Caruana saved. Despite the goalkeeper also getting behind Abigail Camilleri’s strike, the ball landed straight into the path of Fernanda Peinado who pounced on the rebound to make it five for the team and a hat-trick for herself just on the stroke of half-time.

Half-Time Score: Mgarr United 5 – 0 San Gwann

Two Goals And Two Red Cards

Michael Mangion made one substitution at the break, giving an early rest to Brenda Borg who was replaced by Daniela Said Ebejer. Similarly, Julian Camilleri also opted for changes with Sarah Cioffi replacing Nicole Saliba at the back, while Yasmin Spiteri replaced Chanice Grixti.

San Gwann started the half on the front foot, with Shania Gheiti forcing Maia Debono into a clearance, before Chaimaa Tourki’s strike was blocked by Chantelle Grech. The Yellows also earned two corners but the Greens’ defence stood strong. The first was punched away by Patricia Ebejer while the second was cleared by Rebecca Bajada.

Their motivation was somewhat deflated as Rodiana Borg’s side-footed finish into the top left corner extended the Greens’ tally to six in the 54th minute. There was direct lead-up play up the right wing with Bajada releasing Cabral, who cut-back the pass to Borg on the edge of the box for the strike.

San Gwann’s Chaimaa Tourki continued her hard-working performance in midfield, attempting to release Shania Gheiti with a launched ball but Patricia Ebejer was there to clear the danger once more. Tourki also linked well with Rabab Mhalli a few minutes later, but the final ball to release Yasmin Attard was played straight into Anastasia Sivolobova. An hour into the match Gheiti decided to go it alone with a strike from the edge of the box, despite perhaps being better served to cut-back to Attard who was in space in the centre of the box.

Seeing his team comfortably in the lead, Michael Mangion opted for more changes in the 63rd minute. Maia Debono was replaced by Mirayah Aquilina who slotted in the left-back role. Abigail Camilleri assumed the captaincy and also Maia Debono’s position in the left-side of the centre-back partnership with Anastasia Sivolobova. Angelique Schembri swapped with Chantelle Grech.

San Gwann’s Julian Camilleri responded with two more changes of his own shortly after. Yasmin Attard was replaced by Doga Celik, while Maria Ibrahim made way for Michela Formosa.

Similar to the first encounter, the game was littered with reckless challenges and continued to bubble with more tackles flying in. Mgarr United won a central free-kick as Daniela Said Ebejer was clipped by Chaimaa Tourki. However, Joelma Alves Gabriel’s strike was well saved by Justyne Caruana. Chaimaa Tourki landed herself in the book for a two-footed challenge on Luana Vitoria Cabral. Her delivery was read by Rabab Mhalli who cleared. The Greens’ Alves Gabriel also attempted to cross to Peinado but Sarah Cioffi made an important intereception to deny her the opportunity for another strike.

Francesca Zarb earned herself an early shower after receiving a red card for retaliation in the 74th minute. Angelique Schembri almost capitalised with a looping shot toward the top corner, but Caruana shifted well to collect. Meanwhile, Luana Vitoria Cabral and Chaimaa Tourki kept up the tussle with Tourki earning a free-kick for her team in midfield. However, Anastasia Sivolobova won the aerial duel against Shania Gheiti.

The two coaches continued responding to each other’s changes. Julian Camilleri brought off Chaimaa Tourki who was replaced by Katrin Abela in a straight swap. Meanwhile, Mgarr’s Rebecca Bajada was given an early rest by Kelsey Vella. Joelma Alves Gabriel was also replaced by Maria Mizzi. She slotted in midfield, while Angelique Schembri shifted slightly more forward.

The Greens were eager to improve their goal difference with Fernanda Peinado continuing her work up the pitch, winning the ball and sidefooting a finish toward the far post only to see it bounce off the post.

Having already gone down to ten, and trailing by a large scoreline, things got worse for the Yellows as Rabab Mhalli pulled back Maria Mizzi. It prompted the referee to give her a second yellow card, thus resulting in the second sending off of the match. Luana Vitoria Cabral attempted the direct strike but it sailed just above the crossbar.

Maria Mizzi almost got herself on the scoresheet four minutes from time with a low strike toward the far post. However, Justyne Caruana got fingertips on it. Despite this, the Yellows’ hasty clearance saw the ball recycled back to a cross which Daniela Said Ebejer finished into the net for the final goal of the night.

The Greens’ had a major opportunity cleared from the line by Kirstie Vella after Fernanda Peinado chipped the goalkeeper with a header.

Full Time Score: Mgarr United 7 – 0 San Gwann

Next Matches

The win takes Mgarr United’s tally to 17 points, two less than Hibernians whom they face next Saturday 18th November at 15:30, at Dingli Ground. The two sides shared the points in their first fixture of the season.

Meanwhile, San Gwann will look to bounce back with another direct confrontation against Lija Athletic who are currently equal to them on four points.

However, before then there is still more football to be played. Lija Athletic will face Birkirkara later today at 15:30 in Dingli Ground, following the match between Mtarfa and Swieqi United (13:00).

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