by San Gwann continued their winning form with a 4 – 1 victory against Lija Athletic. Hailey Russell’s opener was cancelled by Vanessa Honorio Carneiro on the restart. However, San Gwann secured a commanding scoreline with another goal from Hailey Russell, as well as efforts from Annabelle Rapa and Chaimaa Tourki.
Team Selections
Isabel Sanchez remained in goal for Lija Athletic. Lorna-Maria Cassar started alongside Nell Zarb Cousin, while Milena Stagno and Ilona Sultana continued as full-backs. Debutant Estefany Colmenarez Gonzalez started on the right wing, while Leanne Micallef occupied the left. Sarah Caruana captained the side from midfield, starting alongside Vanessa Honorio Carneiro and debutant Laury Carrasco Gonzalez. Phoebe Camilleri made her first start in attack.
San Gwann’s guardian between the posts, Justyne Caruana, continued in goal. Naomi Blundell partnered Nanako Kobayashi in the centre of the defence, while Kirsty Paris and captain Annabelle Rapa started on the wings. Martina Schembri operated in midfield, in the company of Chaimaa Tourki and Rabab Mhalli. Hailey Russell and Yasmin Attard started in attack, supporting Shania Gheiti.
How It Unfolded
Both sides attempted early shots in hope of catching the goalkeepers off-guard, but Estefany Colmenarez Gonzalez lacked the power to trouble Jusstyne Caruana, while Hailey Russell was off target with a free-kick.
Lija Athletic had the upper hand in possession in the early stages, but could not make it count, with San Gwann effective at their game once more. San Gwann’s number nine ran free on the left wing and fired a low effort which beat Isabel Sanchez at the near post eight minutes into it.
Still the team in black continued pushing further for an equaliser, with interceptions flying in from midfield and the defence, while looking to transition the ball to the wings. Sarah Caruana and Vanessa Honorio Carneiro were lively in orchestrating play, while Milena Stagno and Ilona Sultana keen to support the attack. However, San Gwann’s wing-backs were doing their job in blocking most of the crosses, while Nanako Kobayashi dealt with the sporadic ones that made it into the box.
Still, neither side could find further goals in the half, despite having a number of set-piece opportunities, with the defences mostly doing their jobs and the goalkeepers relatively untroubled. San Gwann’s Shania Gheiti appeared to be onto something in the latter stages of the half, blocking a clearance from Lija’s defence before it falling kindly for her to run behind. However, referee Jake Farrugia pulled play for a handsball.
San Gwann had another opportunity seconds later, applying the press on Lija, with Yasmin Attard making an initial block, and the ball deflecting into the path of Shania Gheiti. However, her shot was suffocated by Isabel Sanchez, to send her team just one goal down in the break.
Half-Time Score: Lija 0 – 1 San Gwann
Jethron Azzopardi made a attacking change at half-time, bringing on Kylie Pantalleresco in midfield, while Vanessa Honorio Carneiro shifted into attack, replacing Phoebe Camilleri. San Gwann’s Julian Camilleri made a double switch shortly into it, bringing Fatma Al Girbi into midfield, with Yasmin Attard making way for Chaimaa Tourki push up into attack. Kirsty Paris gave way to Jeanelle Falzon, with the latter slotting alongside Nanako Kobayashi, shifting Naomi Blundell into left-back.
San Gwann almost hit the double right on the restart, as Chaimaa Tourki’s initial shot was saved by Isabel Sanchez, before the goalkeeper made a second block on Hailey Russell’s attempted rebound. The duo were in reverse combination again minutes later, but Chaimaa Tourki scooped the finish.
Lija Athletic responded with two corner opportunities but could not trouble the Yellows, while Leanne Micallef teased an effort from the left wing which was not too far off from the far post.
However, the team in black got their reward in the 56th minute as Vanessa Honorio Carneiro latched onto the ball in the final third. Noticing the space for the shot and the goalkeeper slightly off her position, the forward fired low into the left corner from distance to get Lija Athletic level.
Lija Athletic’s number nine hit the second goal just a minute later, which would have been a contender for one of the best goals of the season, fired from the right wing to find the far left corner. However, she was ruled offside.
It did enough to truly spark San Gwann into a response, with the match opening up and tensions escalating to a proper encounter once more. Both sides gave it a good go for the next ten minutes.
Referee Jake Farrugia was starting to get some stick from all involved, with claims of a high-boot not whistled, as well as a handsball in midfield, while the referee awarded a free-kick San Gwann’s favour, deeming Lija to be searching for one for themselves. However, he maintained the resolve, keen to also apply an advantage as Hailey Russell was impeded on one of her runs in the latter stages, while dishing out the booking to the offender following the end of play.
However, San Gwann took control in the 66th minute with quick one-touch football between Chaimaa Tourki, Shania Gheiti and Hailey Russell to make it just outside the box. The American cut onto her right foot and curled one toward goal, with Isabel Sanchez getting something on it but not enough to keep it out.
Chances piled for the team in yellow, with the team looking fresher of the two and pushing forward for more. However, Nanako Kobayashi was wide with an effort, while Hailey Russell hit the side-netting and Fatma Al Girbi was denied by Isabel Sanchez’s fingertips on one occasion. Lija Athletic’s Estefany Colmenarez Gonzalez looped an effort from the box on the volley, but it skimmed the woodwork on its way out.
However, having been the stronger side for much of the half, San Gwann extended their lead in the 84th minute, courtesy of a corner delivery, with a touch from Annabelle Rapa and a Lija defender to find its way into the net. The side got the fourth on the 90th minute from another corner. Fatma Al Girbi delivered toward Rabab Mhalli who got the first touch, before Chaimaa Tourki helped it into the bottom left corner on the slide.
Final Score: Lija Athletic 1 – 4 San Gwann
Standings & Next Matches
San Gwann maintain a five-point gap to Valletta at the top of the Bottom Four pool. The two will meet in a direct confrontation on Thursday 30th at the Centenary Stadium at 20:15, with the Citizens coming into it following a 1 – 0 victory over Mtarfa.
Lija Athletic return to action against Mtarfa on Friday 31st at the Charles Abela Stadium at 20:30, with the target of getting themselves into double-figures on points.
This afternoon presents a double-header at Dingli Ground as Swieqi United and Birkirkara meet at 14:00, before the Mgarr United and Hibernians clash at 16:30.
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