Raiders Lija FC Set Up Semi-Final Against Swieqi United Following Win Against Mtarfa FC

The Assikura Knock-Out first-round match between Raiders Lija FC and Mtarfa FC ended in a heavily one-sided scoreline of 9-1. Laura Muscat scored a brace which was followed by a hat-trick from Lexine Farrugia. Slavina Aleksandrova Peneva got a goal back for Mtarfa, before Gaia Antonelli, Hannah Khatib, Monique Sultana and Francesca Bartolo finished off the score.

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Raiders Lija FC’s Denis Guerra started with Giulia D’Antuono in goal, behind a back three consisting of Nell Zarb Cousin, Sarah Caruana and Sabrin Blihi. Gaia Antonelli and Anna Alosio provided the width. Captain Monique Sultana and Michela Bonello Ghio orchestrated in midfield behind a forward trio of Hannah Khatib, Lexine Farrugia and Laura Muscat.

Meanwhile, Mtarfa FC’s Simon Spiteri opted for veteran and captain Dorienne Grech in goal, behind a back four of Rebecca Zammit, Thea Ida Scicluna, Darya Attard and Paula Ciappara. Jeanelle Falzon, Shania Spiteri and Slavina Peneva started in midfield, while Eliza Csik, Kirsty Paris and Jasmine Camilleri occupied the forward roles.

A Bright Start from Muscat

Raiders Lija threatened early on as Michela Bonello Ghio launched a ball for Hannah Khatib to head, but Mtarfa’s goalkeeper Dorienne Grech did enough to put her off. On the other hand, Mtarfa failed to threaten from a free-kick, while in another moment Shania Spiteri also linked well with Eliza Csik to mount a significant attack which faltered at the final ball.

Raiders favoured crosses from the wing in attack, which ultimately paid dividends as Laura Muscat converted Anna Aloisio’s cross after almost a quarter of an hour of play. Despite this, Mtarfa kept their focus and threatened as Kirsty Paris played Eliza Csik behind the defence but Giulia D’Antuono was quickly off her line to sweep and deny the blues their equalizer.

At the other end, Lexine Farrugia stormed through midfield and into the box, earning Raiders the corner that led to their second goal. Hannah Khatib delivered into a dangerous area, and while the blues blocked Anna Aloisio’s header, they could do nothing about Laura Muscat’s rebound.

Mtarfa came back with a chance of their own as Eliza Csik snuck behind the defence. D’Antuono palmed the shot, before Mtarfa’s Peneva miscued the rebound. At the other end, Laura Muscat had a chance to complete her hat-trick inside the first twenty-five minutes but her dink crept just on the wrong side of the post. Darya Attard blocked another of Muscat’s shots a few minutes later.

Farrugia’s Hattrick

The comfort of a two-goal lead gave Raiders the license to play with more freedom. Lexine Farrugia opened her tally for the night on the half-hour mark with a perfectly placed shot from the edge of the box that nestled into the bottom right corner.

Despite the scoreline, action ensued at both ends of the pitch. The number seven fizzed an aerial ball into the path of Hannah Khatib but Dorienne Grech was off her line to block the shot. Mtarfa FC came back with a couple of quick transitions, through smart play by Eliza Csik, but Raiders’ defence stood strong.  

Half-Time Score: Raiders Lija FC 3 – 0 Mtarfa FC

Simon Spiteri brought on Estelle Borg in replacement of Jasmine Camilleri at half-time. As the second half kicked on Raiders did not release their foot off the throttle. High pressing allowed Lexine Farrugia to claim the ball inside Mtarfa’s box before placing the ball into the bottom left corner to register her second of the night just a couple of minutes into the half. She completed the hat-trick just three minutes later from the edge of the box by left-foot volleying a shot into the roof of the net.

Three-Goal Rush in Ten Minutes

Denis Guerra freshened up the defence by bringing on Francesca Bartolo, Eunice Micallef and Larissa Debono, in replacement of the three centre-backs. The Reds kept their press high up the pitch, suffocating the Blues’ attempts to relieve the pressure from the defence.

Despite this, the Blues kept their resolve and earned a goal back through Slavina Peneva. A sloppy pass at the back from the Reds allowed Eliza Csik to recover the ball high up the pitch, before picking out Peneva’s run behind the defence. D’Antuono saved the first with her legs but the ball rebounded straight into the feet of the striker who was not to be denied a second time.  

Gaia Antonelli restored the three-goal advantage for Raiders by finding the far bottom corner of the net with a spectacular strike from the corner of the penalty box. A few minutes later Hannah Khatib delivered the fifth goal of the night for Raiders from a rebound, after Farrugia’s strike had been initially saved by Grech.

Sultana and Bartolo Complete The Performance

Goalscorers Lexine Farrugia and Laura Muscat made way for Georgiana Mifsud and Ylenia Grech shortly after. Meanwhile, Angele Fenech and Corine Deguara made late appearances for the blues.

Raiders’ captain Monique Sultana was the next to get herself on the scoresheet as Francesca Bartolo and Sarah Caruana played slick short passes to open up the space for the captain to venture into, before slotting home the eighth goal.

Francesca Bartolo almost set up the ninth from a corner, finding fellow substitute Eunice Micallef unmarked at the far post but the number twenty-two got underneath it. It was instead Bartolo that ended the rout in the eighty-fourth minute with a left-footed strike from the edge of the box, after being set up by Ylenia Grech.

Full-Time Score: Raiders Lija FC 9 – 1 Mtarfa FC

As a result, Raiders Lija FC progress into the semi-finals where they will meet Swieqi United FC, the latter having beaten defending champions Birkirkara FC on Wednesday. The two sides will meet at the Centenary Stadium on Sunday. The other semi-final will be played between Hibernians FC and San Gwann FC at the Victor Tedesco Stadium.