Mgarr United Head Off To International Break With Win Over Mtarfa

Mgarr United scored eight past Mtarfa and will head to the first international break on a high. Fernanda Peinado scored a brace, while Luana Vitoria Cabral was also on the scoresheet. Joelma Alves Gabriel scored four, including a bicycle kick to wrap up the hattrick. Anastasia Sivolobova scored her first goal in the league to complete the scoring.

Team News

Mtarfa were boosted by the return of captain Dorienne Grech in goal, who made her first appearance this season. Simon Spiteri picked out a back five to protect her. Darya Attard returned in the centre of the defence, flanked by the duo of Rebecca Zammit and Paula Ciappara. The wing-back positions were occupied by Elisa Azzopardi and Angele Fenech. Shania Spiteri partnered Alice Ferrari in midfield. Meanwhile, the furthest forward were the trio of Estelle Borg, Alexandra Peneva and Shakira Falzon.

Giulia D’Antuono retained the responsibility between the posts for Mgarr United. Captain Maia Debono continued to partner Anastasia Sivolobova, while Abigail Camilleri retained the left-back role. Kelsey Vella replaced the injured Rebecca Bajada. Chantelle Grech protected the defence, with Brenda Borg and Luana Vitoria Cabral occupying a more advanced role in midfield. In the attacking line, Fernanda Peinado and Joelma Alves Gabriel provided the width to Kelly Agius Pace.

Quick Start From The Greens

Mgarr United had already notched their first goal within the second minute, displaying some fine fluid attacking football which set the tone for the match. Joelma Alves Gabriel pinged a cross toward Fernanda Peinado who made the run toward the far post and got enough of a touch to find the back of the net at the nearer post.

Luana Vitoria Cabral doubled the lead just one minute later after latching onto a loose clearance by the Blues. The Brazilian needed no second invitation to curl one into the net. The Greens kept up momentum creating chance after chance, with the front four of Brenda Borg, Joelma Alves Gabriel, Kelly Agius Pace and Fernanda Peinado linking well, and often becoming five with Luana Vitoria Cabral joining the party.

Mgarr United also had a long list of corners, but could not manage to extend their lead from the set-pieces. The closest they got was when Abigail Camilleri almost teed up Chantelle Grech, with the latter rising well at the far post, but could not direct the header goalward. Meanwhile, Mtarfa struggled to get beyond the half-way line, with Giulia D’Antuono getting her first touch close to the twentieth minute, thanks to a back pass from her defence.

The Greens claimed a penalty for ball handling after Luana Vitoria Cabral struck from close range, but the referee dismissed their calls. Mtarfa’s Estelle Borg displayed one of the few bold moves up the left wing shortly after, but was shown the line by Kelsey Vella.

Greens Extend Their Tally, Sivolobova Nets First Goal

Mgarr United found their third on the twenty-seventh minute, as Anastasia Sivolobova launched a ball behind the defence, which Joelma Alves Gabriel flicked over the goalkeeper first time. The Brazilian scored the fourth on the half-hour mark. She headed a cross from compatriot Fernanda Peinado, who did well to pick out Alves Gabriel from right on the byline.

Darya Attard attempted to cajole her team up the pitch by driving forward herself. However, Luana Vitoria Cabral recovered possession and immediately set her team on the counter. Brenda Borg launched toward Joelma Alves Gabriel who was ready to cross from the wing, but Dorienne Grech made it hers. A few minutes later Abigail Camilleri came close to adding to Mgarr United’s tally form a corner but got underneath the header and saw it fly over the crossbar.

The fifth goal came thanks to a penalty kick which Kelly Agius Pace won after being impeded on the box in the fortieth minute. Anastasia Sivolobova buried it with a low powerful drive to claim her first goal in the Assikura Women’s League. Fernanda Peinado delivered the sixth on the stroke of half-time with a low shot, after latching onto a well concealed pass by Brenda Borg, which set her free on goal.

Half-Time Score: Mtarfa 0 – 6 Mgarr United

Joelma Alves Gabriel Bicycle Kicks The Hattrick

Both sides made changes at the break. Simon Spiteri gave Darya Attard an early rest. She was replaced by Nicole Mifsud who slotted in the heart of the defence. Meanwhile, Michael Mangion made three changes, bringing on Mirayah Aquilina in a straight swap with Kelsey Vella. Chantelle Grech and Kelly Agius Pace made way for Maria Mizzi and Daniela Said Ebejer. The duo occupied the wings, with Fernanda Peinado moving into the central striker role, while Joelma Alves Gabriel joined the centre of midfield alongside Brenda Borg and Luana Vitoria Cabral.

Mgarr United appeared to be picking up exactly where they left off when Mirayah Aquilina pinged a ball toward Fernanda Peinado, but the Brazilian was a bit too casual with the finish and Dorienne Grech was alert to collect. Abigail Camilleri drove forward a few moments later but saw her left-footed effort curl away from the net. Brenda Borg came closer later on, after working a good combination with Fernanda Peinado, but she too saw her shot skim just wide of the post.

It was Joelma Alves Gabriel who scored the seventh on the hour mark, with an audacious bicycle kick to finish off her hattrick in style. Abigail Camilleri grabbed the assist for the cross.

Mtarfa chose to freshen things up with Rachel Sultana replacing Alice Ferrari in the seventieth minute. Substitute Nicole Mifsud showed good strength to deny Mgarr United’s Fernanda Peinado from running free on goal, and showed good awareness to win a free kick to allow her team a breather from the constant stream of attacks.

Alves Gabriel Completes Scoring, Schembri Denied Goal On Return

Despite this, Mgarr United could only be held off for so long and found their eighth in the seventy-fourth minute. Luana Vitoria Cabral looked for Joelma Alves Gabriel’s run behind the defence, with the number ten flicking another goal into the back of the net. The scorer gave way to Angelique Schembri immediately after, allowing Mgarr United’s number seventeen to make a first appearance after being sidelined for a while. She occupied the left wing role, while Daniela Said Ebejer moved into the number ten role. Fernanda Peinado also made way for Shakira Grace Camilleri in a straight swap.

The substitutes integrated into the match well. Within a few minutes Brenda Borg launched toward Schembri, who played the cross into Abigail Camilleri, who had made the run into the box. However, the latter’s touch allowed Dorienne Grech time to collect. Meanwhile, Angelique Schembri saw a return goal denied after play was pulled back for a foul in the lead-up to the goal.

Mtarfa’s Marija Zarb made a late appearance in replacement of Shakira Falzon. Simon Spiteri also opted to give Amy Mizzi a few minutes in goal, as well as Maria Sant who slotted in the attack. Luana Vitoria Cabral came close to adding to the tally with a long range effort but was wide of the mark. Meanwhile, the Greens’ Maria Mizzi almost got a late goal but Amy Mizzi collected before the referee blew for full time.

Final Score: Mtarfa 0 – 8 Mgarr United

Next Matches

The teams will head off for the first stop in the season, as the first international break kicks off from next week, which will see Malta’s National Women’s Team compete in the first ever UEFA Women’s Nations League. However, before then, the Assikura Women’s League weekend still has three more matches to be played between today (Lija v Valletta) and Saturday (Birkirkara v San Gwann, Swieqi United v Hibernians).

Meanwhile, Mtarfa and Mgarr United will return to action on Saturday the 14th of October, in a double-header at Dingli Ground. Mtarfa will kick-off proceedings against San Gwann at 3 pm, followed by Mgarr United who will host Lija Athletic at 5:30 pm.

Lead Image: Lara Schembri

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