by San Gwann secured their first three points with a 6-0 victory over Mtarfa. Chaimaa Tourki grabbed a brace on the night, while Hailey Russell grabbed the match ball to get off the mark in style for the Yellows. An own goal was also scored.
Team Selection
Mtarfa’s Gaetano Papaleo continued showing faith in Dorienne Grech in goal. She was protected by a back-four consisting of Angele Fenech, Darya Attard, Rebecca Zammit and Maria Abdilla. Eliza Csik returned to the fold for Mtarfa in midfield. She accompanied Paula Ciappara and Jasmine Camilleri, with the latter captaining the side on the night. Estelle Borg and Julianne Camilleri started in attack, flanking Katie Gribbon.
Meanwhile, Julian Camilleri continued to trust Geona Muscat in goal. She was protected by debuting Nanako Kobayashi, who accompanied Kirstie Vella and Jeanelle Falzon in defence. Captain Annabelle Rapa started on the right wing, while Naomi Blundell started on the left. Fatma Al Girbi partnered Nilayza Attard in midfield. Hailey Russell continued leading the attack, while Moroccan duo Rabab Mhalli and Chaimaa Tourki provided the width.
How It Unfolded
San Gwann needed only four minutes to break the deadlock. Chaimaa Tourki powered past her marker before chipping the ball into the back of the net from the edge of the penalty area.
Hailey Russell doubled the scoreline in the 9th minute with great composure, to mark her first goal with San Gwann. The American was fed by Chaimaa Tourki, before dribbling around the goalkeeper and passing it into the empty net.
Mtarfa’s woes were compounded as Angele Fenech signalled to the bench and had to be substituted out within the 12th minute of the match. She was replaced by Saleisha Ghigo who took to the pitch on the right wing, while Julianne Camilleri shifted to the left back position.
The Blues’ Katie Gribbon got the team some respite, winning a free-kick in midfield. Rebecca Zammit launched forward into Jasmine Camilleri, however San Gwann were quick to crowd her out.
The Yellows searched for more, with Hailey Russell and Chaimaa Tourki combining once more. Russell released Tourki with an intelligent ball, but Dorienne Grech was quick off her line to get first to the ball. Rabab Mhalli attempted to finish off the scraps but was high with the finish.
Despite this, Chaimaa Tourki doubled her tally and found the third for San Gwann in the 22nd minute. Set up by compatriot Rabab Mhalli, Tourki finessed a lob into the net from outside the box.
Fatma Al Girbi attempted to set up Nanako Kobayashi for a debut goal from a set-piece, but the Japanese defender could not find the target with the header. The Blues responded with an attempt to get up the pitch, earning a throw-in. However, Estelle Borg’s attempt to get the cross in was collected by Geona Muscat with no pressure in the box.
San Gwann found the fourth with five minutes from the close of the opening half. Despite Mtarfa’s Rebecca Zammit reading the delivery at the near post, the Blues failed to clear effectively, with Hailey Russell pouncing on the opportunity. San Gwann’s new number nine fired on the turn to make it a brace for herself and four for the team.
With the half drawing toward a close, Nanako Kobayashi played a delightful diagonal to release Naomi Blundell into space, who made a good run forward. However, Rebecca Zammit shut the door. Chaimaa Tourki had the opportunity to complete the hat-trick just before the half-time whistle from a free-kick, but was wayward with the strike.
Half-Time Score: Mtarfa 0 – 4 San Gwann
Mtarfa’s Gaetano Papaleo made a forced substitution at the break as Jasmine Camilleri was unable to continue. She was replaced by Kerrie Ciappara. The Blues kicked off with an opportunity to put the ball into the box. Rebecca Zammit launched toward Paula Ciappara who earned the corner. Saleisha Ghigo delivered, but San Gwann were first to the ball, before Rebecca Zammit reacted to the loose ball, but was wide of the mark.
San Gwann’s Hailey Russell completed her hat-trick in the 53rd minute. The American comfortably rolled her marker, before striking with venom from distance, hitting the crossbar, before Dorienne Grech was unlucky with the bounce for the ball to hit her back and go in.
The Yellows continued piling forward, with Naomi Blundell making good forward runs into space and found well by Fatma Al Girbi and Nanako Kobayashi on separate occasions to create attacks. On their part, Chaimaa Tourki and Hailey Russell were not afraid to try their luck, but Dorienne Grech was equal to the attempts.
Mtarfa’s Eliza Csik was trusted to go forward in attack, with Katie Gribbon retreated into midfield by Gaetano Papaleo, while San Gwann’s Julian Camilleri opted for his first changes to be more offensive. Nilayza Attard and Kirstie Vella gave way to Shania Gheiti and Yasmin Attard. The duo slotted on either side of Hailey Russell in attack, pushing Chaimaa Tourki into midfield, while Naomi Blundell went into the centre-back position and Rabab Mhalli took the left wing-back duties.
Rebecca Zammit was equal to the danger from two successive corner deliveries to stop further damage, before launching a free-kick toward Katie Gribbon in search of creating a goalscoring threat. Gribbon helped it on, but San Gwann’s Jeanelle Falzon cleared the lines.
However, San Gwann were helped for the sixth, as Chaimaa Tourki did good work to find the space for a cross from the by-line, only for Maria Abdilla to put it past her shot-stopper in the 79th minute.
Julian Camilleri made another switch, bringing on Thais Muscat in the right wing-back position, while Jeanelle Falzon was given an early rest. Annabelle Rapa shifted to the centre-back position. Naomi Blundell and Chaimaa Tourki also made way to Tracy Axiak and Chanice Grixti respectively, late on. Meanwhile, Mtarfa’s Maria Abdilla was forced off the pitch, replaced by Katya Camilleri.
Mtarfa’s Elisa Csik made a final run for it, dispossessing San Gwann in midfield, before darting up the right wing. The cross was dealt with by San Gwann for a corner, which Saleisha Ghigo took charge of. She found Estelle Borg, but the latter could not find the target with the finish.
Final Score: Mtarfa 0 – 6 San Gwann
Next Matches
San Gwann will be thrilled to get off the mark with their first three points and in a convincing manner. They will be chomping at the bit for their next encounter, as they meet Lija Athletic on the 14th September at 18:00 at Dingli Ground.
Meanwhile, Mtarfa will prepare for a meet with Hibernians on Thursday 12th September at the Centenary Stadium (20:15).
Tonight presents the final two matches of the weekend which promise good showdowns as Swieqi United take on Valletta at 18:00, before the Mgarr United and Hibernians clash at 20:30. Both will be played at Dingli Ground.
Following that, the Assikura Women’s League will break off for the upcoming week as Birkirkara host the UEFA Women’s Champions League matches at the Centenary Stadium on the 4th and 7th of September. They will be welcoming Anderlecht, Red Star Belgrade and Breznica Pljevlja. Further details here.
Lead Images: Lara Schembri
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[…] Gwann come into it having won their previous fixture against Mtarfa by 6 – 0 with the team in full flow. Julian Camilleri was elated by his team, “I was very pleased by […]