by Raiders Lija FC took three points off Mtarfa on Wednesday night with Lexine Farrugia grabbing a hat-trick along the way. Mtarfa had a crucial opportunity to get a goal back as Shania Marie Spiteri made an inspired run up the field, but she was denied by the crossbar. The win sees Lija close the gap to fourth place, and they now trail Mgarr United FC by only a single point.
A Brace in 6 Minutes
Raiders took hold of possession early on and started the match with an intensity that made clear their target of winning the match. It was one-way traffic and the home side registered their first goal after just a quarter of an hour of play.
The team had been looking to play crosses into the box and eventually, it paid off as the Mtarfa defense switched off to Lexine Farrugia’s late run. The number seven crept on the back of the defense to tap in her first goal of the match.
The striker hit the crossbar after 20 minutes of play despite Mtarfa goalkeeper Dorianne Grech’s attempt to get a hand on the ball. However, Farrugia did not have to wait too long and registered her second shortly after.
This time, she cut inside from the left wing and onto her favoured right foot, striking centrally but with venom. The ball sailed just between Grech’s outstretched palm and the crossbar, to go into the net.
Mtarfa Hit the Crossbar
The team in blue showed had spells of possession in which they tried to work the ball up the pitch with good short passes, which was positive to see. However, their best chance came around the 26th minute mark, when Shania Marie Spiteri recovered the ball in the defensive third and brought it upfield all the way to a one versus one against Lija goalkeeper Giulia D’Antuono.
Despite the chilly evening and having had little to do until this point, D’Antuono was switched on and quickly rushed out to meet Mtarfa’s number twenty. Spiteri was bold enough to chip the keeper but was denied by the crossbar. Hamida Salma Saleh was closest to hit the rebound, but could not re-direct in time by which time Lija managed close down and clear the ball for an Mtarfa corner.
Farrugia Grabs the Hattrick
The second half was a less intense affair. Once again Raiders Lija had plenty of possession but were generally happy to shoot from distance, which often resulted in an easy gather for Mtarfa veteran Dorianne Grech.
However, Lexine Farrugia did provide a moment of quality when she netted her and Lija’s final goal of the night, in the 70th minute. The player earned the free-kick herself after she was brought down right on the edge of the box, just slightly to the left of the goal.
It was a well-placed free-kick and Farrugia worked it well by looping the ball over the 5-person wall and controlling the pace for it to drop to the right height. She also gave the ball enough bend for it to creep into the left side of the goal, just beyond the reach of diving Dorianne Grech.
League Standings
The win takes Raiders Lija FC within one point of Mgarr United who currently sit in fourth place. However, the Greens will next play a direct encounter against third-placed Hibernians FC on the 14th of March.
If the Greens drop points, it will play into the hands of Raider’s Lija, who on their part will fancy getting three points in their next match when they face San Gwann. The games will be followed by a direct confrontation between Raiders & Mgarr which will also be a pivotal match in determining the mid-table positions.
Meanwhile, Mtarfa will face an even tougher test next time out, when they play second-place Swieqi United FC at the Centenary Stadium on the 14th of March.
