by Mgarr United returned with a 2 – 1 victory against San Gwann last Friday. Valeria Villegas Caly broke the deadlock just before the break, before Brenda Borg doubled the lead just into the second half. The Greens could have had more, with Amber Grech and Yanina Mendez also denied by the crossbar. However, league top scorer Hailey Russell got a goal back for San Gwann late in the match to half the margin of victory.
Team Selections
Patricia Ebejer returned in goal for Mgarr United, fronted by a back four consisting of Rebecca Bajada, Leanne Cefai, Abigail Camilleri and Yanina Mendez. Maia Debono continued operating in the defensive midfield position, with Yulya Carella and Amber Grech operating out wide. Captain Brenda Borg occupied the playmaker position, behind the offensive duo of Alejandra Villegas Caly and Valeria Villegas Caly.
Justyne Caruana started between the posts for San Gwann, behind a back-four of Naomi Blundell, Nanako Kobayashi, Jeanelle Falzon and Kirstie Vella. Captain Annabelle Rapa started in midfield alongside Fatma Al Girbi, while Moroccan duo Chaimaa Tourki and Rabab Mhalli operated out wide. Shania Gheiti partnered Hailey Russell in attack.
How It Unfolded
The match kicked off to an Mgarr United side keen on breaking down a tactically organised San Gwann, primed on hurting with direct play. The Greens were working the defence with crosses into the box, while unafraid to shoot from the loose pickings at the edge of the box. Justyne Caruana was called into action within the first minutes by Alejandra Villegas Caly, but the young goalkeeper clutched the ball safely.
On their part, San Gwann picked their spot to register their first shot, with Annabelle Rapa linking well with Shania Gheiti. The forward darted inside, before finding Hailey Russell who struck from distance. However, Patricia Ebejer shuffled well to get collect the ball untroubled.
Proceedings were interrupted by an injury to Yulya Carella, who came off worse for wear after trying to make a tackle, ending her match. She was replaced by Elisa Xuereb who slotted up top, with Alejandra Villegas Caly occupying the right wing duties.
The first half trudged on with plenty of intent from both teams to make their plan work, but lacking the necessary quality to trouble goalkeepers too much. San Gwann failed to take opportunities arising from set-pieces but managed to create something through Shania Gheiti’s workrate. The forward won the ball in midfield, before finding Hailey Russell. She sped past on the wing, before putting the ball into the box. However, Patricia Ebejer got a hand on it, before Leanne Cefai cleared to a corner. However, San Gwann were off target with the finish.
On their part, Mgarr United continued working the ball into the box, but appearing to lack the quality to convert the final effort into goal. Still, the opportunities piled as the half drew to a close, with Brenda Borg forcing a parry from Justyne Caruana from a free-kick as the 40th minute expired. Elisa Xuereb was also making her appearance pay off, with good movement up top to link play.
However, things changed just before the half-time whistle, with San Gwann punished by a lethal counter-attack. The Yellows overcomplicated a set-piece routine, with Elisa Xuereb blocking Hailey Russell’s resulting effort. Yanina Mendez cleared to Valeria Villegas Caly, who picked out Brenda Borg’s run in support. The skipper returned the cross from the byline, with Valeria Villegas Caly flicking it goalward at the near post to open the scoring.
Half-Time Score: Mgarr United 1 – 0 San Gwann
There were no substitutions at the break from either side, with Mgarr United clearly looking to extend their lead and up the intensity of play. Once again, San Gwann dealt with the crosses coming into the box, but struggled against the numbers the Greens put forward crowding the area which became the downfall for the second goal.
Although an initial shot by Amber Grech was well palmed by Justyne Caruana, the same pattern of play proved lethal a few seconds later. This time Grech squared it to Brenda Borg, who let fly a left-footed effort that found the top right corner of the net, giving the goalkeeper no chance in the 47th minute.
San Gwann still displayed character to stick to their plan. However, Hailey Russell was closely marked, with Maia Debono impeding the forward in an attack, before Amber Grech rattled the crossbar with another effort at the other end.
The Greens continued working the link-up with more runs into the half-spaces, with the aim of extending their lead. San Gwann’s Jeanelle Falzon was the next to block an effort from Valeria Villegas Caly to deny her a certain goal from inside the penalty area.
The Yellows looked like they were onto something with the counter through Shania Gheiti who skipped past two challenges before attempting to find Hailey Russell once more. However, Rebecca Bajada tracked back to take control of the situation. The American forward was off her mark minutes later, but this time Leanne Cefai shut the door. Having run her match, Shania Gheiti gave way to Yasmin Attard just after the hour mark.
On their part Mgarr United continued peppering shots at goal. Yanina Mendez found Valeria Villegas Caly with a cross from the byline, with the forward rising well but heading it just above the cross bar. Mendez struck a shot herself which grazed the crossbar just a few minutes later as the Greens attempted to extend with a free-kick routine. Almost chances ensued as Amber Grech was still causing trouble with her ability to pick out the runs of her forwards.
San Gwann’s Julian Camilleri made a double-swap as the final quarter of an hour approached. Nilayza Attard replaced Chaimaa Tourki, while Annabelle Rapa was forced off with an injury. Martina Schembri took her place in midfield. Mgarr United’s Ryan Vella introduced Kayah Abela Sciberras with a late change, instead of Yanina Mendez.
Having held off the Yellows’ attempt to counter for the majority of the match, Mgarr United authored their downfall with a loose ball at the back. Fed straight to Hailey Russell, the Assikura Women’s League leading scorer needed no second invite, precisely finding the bottom right corner with a single kick to get San Gwann on the scoresheet.
San Gwann’s Nanako Kobayashi attempted to find an equaliser with a free-kick from distance. However, Patricia Ebejer was alert to collect the aerial delivery. Having dominated for much of the match, Mgarr United attempted to regain a larger margin of victory and make good on the heaps of chances created in the final minutes of the match, but to no avail.
Final Score: Mgarr United 2 – 1 San Gwann
Standings & Next Matches
The Greens return to competitive fixtures with another win taking their tally to 24 points and lifting them above Birkirkara, who are on 23. The two teams have a short turnaround, with a direct confrontation poised for this Tuesday (17th) at 18:30 at the Centenary Stadium. The defending champions will come into it following a 1 -1 draw against league leaders, Hibernians.
The match will be followed by Swieqi United’s encounter against San Gwann, starting at 20:45. Swieqi United will go into it fresh from a 8 – 0 win against Lija Athletic, which took their tally to 25 points. However, despite not taking points against the Greens, San Gwann will be determined to keep being an anomaly from the teams in the bottom four with their performances against the top sides.
Lead Image: Lara Schembri
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