by Mgarr United beat Mtarfa by 9-1 last Wednesday in the teams’ penultimate match of this league season. Mtarfa’s Angele Fenech got her first senior goal for the club. However, the Greens had too much firepower with Kelly Agius Pace and Amber Grech each grabbing hattricks, while Brenda Borg and Francesca Chircop cemented the victory.
Team News
Mtarfa coach Simon Spiteri started Maria Abdilla in goal, while changes were also made in defence. Jeanelle Falzon partnered Darya Attard, with captain Rebecca Zammit and Paula Ciappara taking the wide positions. Thea Ida Scicluna moved further forward partnering Shania Spiteri in midfield. In attack, Angele Fenech and Slavina Peneva supported striker Eliza Csik.
On the other hand, Mgarr’s Michael Mangion made three changes to the starting line-up that faced Swieqi United before the international break. Daniela Said Ebejer and Sarah Fenech were given a start in the right and left-wing roles respectively, while Amber Grech shifted to the number ten role. Tourki Chaimaa also started the match alongside Kelly Agius Pace up in front.
Mgarr Open the Scoring
Kelly Agius Pace broke the deadlock in the 26th minute, placing the ball into the far corner after Tourki Chaimaa picked out her run behind the defence. The greens were patient in the build-up with Daniela Said Ebejer, Amber Grech and the two protagonists all linking in the lead-up to the goal. On the other hand, Mtarfa’s defenders will be disappointed not to have gotten closer to Chaimaa to restrict her the time to turn and pick out the pass.
The greens had a chance to double their lead shortly after as Amber Grech launched a ball for Tourki Chaimaa to chase but Mtarfa’s goalkeeper Maria Abdilla was quickly off her line to clear the danger. The Greens had another chance from a set-piece as Maia Debono delivered a peach of a ball into the box, but three players failed to get a touch on it.
Mtarfa’s Angele Fenech Hits the Reply
Instead, it was Mtarfa that capitalised on a free-kick getting themselves back level after around half an hour of play. Jeanelle Falzon took charge of the set-piece picking out Thea Ida Scicluna’s run behind the defence. Scicluna laid the ball back to Angele Fenech who struckit first time into the net, before being engulfed by teammates in celebration of Fenech’s first senior goal and the team’s first ever goal against the Greens in the league.
Angele Fenech had a chance to double her tally as Mgarr played themselves into trouble, with Shania Spiteri and Eliza Csik linking well to play in Fenech. However, Mgarr’s Kelsey Vella closed Mtarfa’s goalscorer well who ultimately sent her shot flying wide.
Kelly Agius Pace Completes the Hat-Trick
Tourki Chaimaa scored in the 37th minute but it was ruled out for offside. However, it did not take long for Mgarr to recover with Chaimaa linking again with Kelly Agius Pace who fired Mgarr into the lead a couple of minutes later.
Mtarfa had a chance to respond almost immediately as Thea Ida Scicluna made a darting run behind the defence, however Patricia Ebejer rushed out to block the shot. Mtarfa’s fortunes took a further dip shortly after as Kelly Agius Pace completed the hat-trick on the stroke of half-time, with Tourki Chaimaa grabbing her third assist of the night.
Half-Time Score: Mtarfa 1 – 3 Mgarr United
Amber Grech’s Hat-trick Seals Mtarfa’s Fate
Mgarr’s number 88 got herself on the scoresheet within the first minute of the second half. She initially linked well with half-time substitute Brenda Borg, whose shot was deflected by Mtarfa’s defence back into the path of Grech. Maria Abdilla came out to claim but Grech was first to react to the awkward bounce of the ball lacing it into the corner of the net.
Brenda Borg continued her bright start to the half and dribbled past three defenders on two separate occasions, but her efforts to find the net, as well as to link with Agius Pace, were thwarted by Mtarfa. However, the blues could not keep Borg at bay for long and she got Mgarr’s fifth goal of the night from a direct corner.
Amber Grech delivered the sixth for Mgarr and her second of the night couple of minutes later by cutting inside from the left wing and persisting against double markers who blocked her initial shot but could not stop the second. Mgarr’s number 88 completed her hattrick immediately on the restart with Brenda Borg claiming the assist.
Chircop’s Brace Closes the Night
The Greens kept up the intensity and Rebecca Bajada won a penalty in the 65th minute after her cross was handled in the box. Substitute Francesca Chircop nestled the ball into the bottom right corner to get herself on the scoresheet. Mgarr’s number ten completed the scoring ten minutes later from a corner kick that Amber Grech flicked from the near post for Chircop to head into the net.
The Greens had opportunities to further increase their scoring late in the match. Tourki Chaimaa was picked out by Brenda Borg in the latter stages, but the striker was off target. Shortly after, the captain for the night Maia Debono almost struck gold from a free-kick but it lacked enough dip to find the top corner.
Later on, Rebecca Bajada cut the defense apart with a diagonal ball, finding Chircop who redirected it into the path of substitute Shakira Camilleri, but the defense did just enough to put her off. The substitute had another chance with the second ball which Tourki Chaimaa recycled but Camilleri could not get the finishing touch.
League Standings & Fixtures
The victory takes Mgarr United within two points of Hibernians FC who sit in third place. Mtarfa still find themselves bottom of the league but have the opportunity to lift themselves by winning the bottom-of-the-league encounter against San Gwann FC. The match will be played on Monday 24th April at 8:30 pm at the Centenary Stadium.
Mgarr and Mtarfa will meet again at the Mgarr Ground on Thursday 27th April at 8:30 pm for their final league match of the season, in a must-win match for Mgarr United if they are to knock off Hibernians from the third spot.
Photo: Chiara Faedo
