by Mgarr United had a strong start to the campaign with a 14 – 0 romp against Mtarfa. Yulya Carella scored a glut, while Brenda Borg grabbed a hat-trick. Alejandra Villegas Caly marked her debut with a brace. Amber Grech marked her return to the pitch with a goal, while Maia Debono, Rodiana Borg and Rebecca Bajada also found the net on the night.
Team Selection
Mgarr United’s Ryan Vella opted for Patricia Ebejer to start in goal, behind a back-four. Rebecca Bajada started on the right wing, while debutant Yanina Mendez started on the left. Abigail Camilleri and Leanne Cefai occupied the central defending positions. Maia Debono protected the defence, while captain Brenda Borg started orchestrated alongside debutant Veronique Mifsud. Yulya Carella started in attack alongside Valeria Villegas Caly and Alejandra Villegas Caly.
Meanwhile Gaetano Papaleo trusted captain Dorienne Grech in goal for Mtarfa. A four-piece defence was set up with experienced duo Rebecca Zammit and Darya Attard at its core, while Maria Abdilla and Julianne Camilleri started on the widths. Angele Fenech and Estelle Borg occupied the wings, while Jasmine Camilleri and Saleisha Ghigo started in the centre of the park. Emily Farrugia debuted alongside Paula Ciappara in attack.
How It Unfolded
The Greens looked to impose themselves on the match from the off. However, the Blues had plenty of determination to hold them off for as long as they could, while earning themselves an opportunity to put the ball into the box for an attack early on too.
Dorienne Grech was quick off her line in the 7th minute to deny Yulya Carella who had expertly controlled an aerial ball, but denied the opportunity to shoot by the sweeping goalkeeper.
Despite this, Mgarr United’s number eleven got the team off their mark in the 9th minute by firing home a rebound, after debutant Alejandra Villegas Caly struck the crossbar with an effort from distance.
Dorienne Grech made a spectacular diving save just two minutes later to deny Valeria Villegas Caly. However, it was one way traffic, with Mgarr United using their physicality to overwhelm the Blues.
The second goal arrived in a similar vein in the 12th minute. This time, it was captain Brenda Borg who placed into the top right corner, after Valeria Villegas Caly had hit the bar.
Mtarfa worked a good spell of possession a few minutes later, seeking to build an attack. Paula Ciappara linked well with Emily Farrugia, however found Leanne Cefai ready to dispossess.
Alejandra Villegas Caly got herself a debut goal in the 17th minute, after being picked out by a cross from Veronique Mifsud, who was released by Brenda Borg. Yulya Carella rebounded the fourth just a minute later, after Dorienne Grech had initially kept out a low effort by Valeria Villegas Caly. Brenda Borg made it five in the 20th minute, with a long range effort that snuggled into the bottom left corner.
The Greens kept piling forward, with Yanina Mendez next to ping a cross toward Yulya Carella. However, the youngster pulled it wide in a rare miss on the night. Despite the scoreline, Dorienne Grech was keen on anticipating long-range passes and ready to come off her line to meet Mgarr United’s front line, while the Mtarfa defence were managing to frustrate with the offside trap to some extent.
Despite this, Yulya Carella converted a cross from Rebecca Bajada in the 25th minute to snatch the third and complete her hat-trick. Veronique Mifsud earned another assist just over the half hour mark, this time setting up her captain, Brenda Borg, who was calm with the finish into a vacant net. The Mgarr United skipper was released with an aerial pass from Maia Debono just minutes later, but could not find the target with the header, despite timing the run behind the defence well.
Rebecca Zammit was next to block another long-range effort from Brenda Borg. However, things took a sour turn for the Greens as Valeria Villegas Caly was forced off the pitch through injury. On the other hand, there was positive news as Amber Grech returned to the field, after having missed the entire 2023/24 campaign through injury. She slotted on the left wing, while Alejandra Villegas Caly shifted to the centre of attack.
The Blues managed a good spell of play with Saleisha Ghigo finding Emily Farrugia, who held the ball well before switching play toward Estelle Borg. However, the Greens’ defence was ready to thwart the momentum.
Half-Time Score: Mgarr United 7 – 0 Mtarfa
Gaetano Papaleo made one change at the break, bringing on Katie Gribbon instead of Saleisha Ghigo, adding more of a physical presence in midfield.
However, the one way traffic continued. Maia Debono got the Greens restarted in the 51st minute by letting one fly from distance to find the back of the net, despite Dorienne Grech getting something on it. Alejandra Villegas Caly grabbed the ninth just a minute later, tapping home a low crossed delivery from Rebecca Bajada who was released by Veronique Mifsud.
The new Mgarr United number ten almost teed Maia Debono up for the tenth just a few minutes later, but the latter headed it just above the crossbar. Ryan Vella opted to freshen up the team as the hour mark approached. Maria Mizzi replaced Leanne Cefai in defence, while Rodiana Borg came on instead of Yanina Mendez.
Borg made a strong introduction, placing an effort from distance to find the tenth in the 64th minute, which struck the crossbar on its way in.
More changes ensued on both ends as Shakira Camilleri replaced Alejandra Villegas Caly, while Brenda Borg gave way to Daniela Said Ebejer, with Abigail Camilleri taking the skipper’s armband in the process. Meanwhile, Dorienne Grech limped off, with Kendra Micallef taking to the goal instead. Oumayma Jelili also replaced Julianne Camilleri.
Mgarr United’s number eleven, Yulya Carella, delivered the eleventh goal of the night in style, with an acrobatic finish to convert Rebecca Bajada’s cross.
Kendra Micallef denied efforts from Veronique Mifsud as well as from Maia Debono, while Mifsud had a low finish denied by Rebecca Zammit. Shakira Camilleri was also denied by the woodwork after having done well to time her run to get behind the defence.
However, Yulya Carella completed her milestone by striking the twelfth of the night from distance in the 81st minute. Rebecca Bajada grabbed the thirteenth in the 84th minute, firing home from close range to convert Rodiana Borg’s corner delivery.
Amber Grech completed the scoring on the night in the 85th minute, marking her return to the pitch in the best possible manner. She powered past her marker on the left wing, before burying a left-footed finish with a low drive into the far corner of the net.
Final Score: Mgarr United 14 – 0 Mtarfa
Next Matches
The match concluded proceedings at Dingli Ground on the evening, with both Mgarr United and Birkirkara showing dominance on the day. The Greens will be chomping at the bit for the next encounter as they meet Hibernians on Saturday 31st August at 20:30.
On the other hand, Mtarfa will dust themselves off and prepare for an encounter against San Gwann, with both sides looking for an improved second matchday. The two will meet at the Centenary Stadium at 20:30 on Friday 30th August.
Lead Image: Elise Bajada
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2 Responses
[…] Gaetano Papaleo was in his first match in charge of the side and admitted that the strength of Mgarr United was too much too handle for his side, “Mgarr is a great team. l have the sporting honesty to admit that they are a spectacle and l […]
[…] The Greens powered past Mtarfa by a heavily one-sided scoreline of 14-0, with several players getting in on the action. Coach Ryan Vella was pleased with the variety on display to get the victory in his first official match in charge, “We’re very pleased with our last performance. It is not only because of the result, but because of showing good attacking play throughout the game. We worked on a lot of attacking patterns during training, so it was very nice to see it come out during the match.” […]