San Gwann Open Round With Confident Win Over Mtarfa

San Gwann cruised to a 6-0 victory over Mtarfa in the opening fixture of the third round. Andjela Kricak grabbed the match ball, while Shania Gheiti, Yasmin Attard and Rabab Mhalli completed the scoring. Change appears to be afoot for the Mtarfa with a new coaching contingent observed in the Blues’ dugout.

Team Selections

There was no Simon Spiteri leading Mtarfa from the dugout, with Brandon Spiteri, Christian Curmi and Mario Formosa appearing to guide the team. Maria Abdilla continued her stay in goal, protected by a four player defence. Angele Fenech returned to the line-up on the right flank, while Corine Deguara maintained her place on the left. Shania Spiteri and Paula Ciappara stood in the centre of the defence. Kerrie Ciappara started alonside Katya Camilleri in midfield, with Dorienne Grech in company. Rasvita Sluckute and Elisa Azzopardi started on the wings, while Rachel Sultana led the line.

Julian Camilleri opted for Hayley Gray between the goalposts. She was protected by the trio of Sarah Cioffi, Tracy Axiak and Kirstie Vella. Thresa Scicluna and Rabab Mhalli occupied the wings, while Chanice Grixti and Martina Schembri started in the centre of midfield. Andjela Kricak was the skipper on the night in the absence of Annabelle Rapa, with the Serbian pulling the strings in the number ten role. Chaimaa Tourki started in support of Shania Gheiti in attack.

San Gwann Open Healthy Lead

The Yellows started on the front foot with Rabab Mhalli crossing into Andjela Kricak within the first five minutes. The Serbian dribbled past one player before Paula Ciappara made the tackle to deny her the opportunity for the shot. However, the team kept at it, with the Serbian breaking the deadlock into the 6th minute. Mtarfa’s defence was caught napping, allowing a low cross to run across toward Kricak who ran to the far post unmarked and blasted it into the right side of the net.

The Yellows continued enjoying the lion’s share of possession, with Chaimaa Tourki and Shania Gheiti both having attempts blocked. Mtarfa’s attempt to get something going forward in the 17th minute was quickly shut out with the Yellows surging on a counter-attack. Andjela Kricak found Chaimaa Tourki who spread it to Thresa Scicluna. However, Mtarfa’s Maria Abdilla clutched the cross. More chances persisted for San Gwann, with Tracy Axiak having an attempt fizz over the bar from a corner.

Having had a previous attempt thwarted, Camilleri’s team doubled the lead in the 25th minute from a counter-attack. Andjela Kricak released Chaimaa Tourki who, observing Maria Abdilla mid-way in attempt to close the ball down, crossed into Shania Gheiti, with the number nine passing it into the gaping net. Tourki had another opportunity for the strike but pulled it wide around three minutes later.

Shania Spiteri looked to instil some courage into the team by dribbling forward with the ball. She made good headway into midfield but overcooked the attempt to release Rasvita Sluckute on the wing. Maria Abdilla was shortly called into action at the other end by a shot from Rabab Mhalli, before the Blues saw away the danger from the corner.

Despite Mtarfa looking to hold on until the half-time whistle, Andjela Kricak made it three in the 37th minute with a spectacular shot from the right side of the box which dipped perfectly into the far corner.

Half-Time Score: Mtarfa 0 – 3 San Gwann

Attard & Mhalli Get San Gwann Going Again

Julian Camilleri made one change at the break in attack, bringing on Yasmin Attard in a direct swap with Shania Gheiti. Meanwhile, Mtarfa’s contingent continued swapping players, with Elisa Azzopardi slotting in the right-back role, while Angele Fenech pushed upfield on the left wing and Rasvita Sluckute shifted to the right.

San Gwann renewed the attacking momentum but took some time to find their groove going. Although controlling possession, Mtarfa were holding off from the scoreline increasing by clearing balls from the box.

The Blues were forced into their first change as Dorienne Grech had to be taken off due to injury. She was replaced by Maia Cutajar who slotted in midfield. The Blues had one forward opportunity on the counter-attack, with Angele Fenech surging forward after supporting in defence. However, Hayley Gray was well positioned to snuff out the attack.

It was instead Yasmin Attard who, released behind the defence, fired San Gwann’s fourth and her maiden goal before cart-wheeling away in celebration, making good on her appearance from the bench in the 66th minute.

Julian Camilleri opted to make more changes with Cassidy Mihalic appearing instead of Chanice Grixti. Mihalic occupied the forward role, with Chaimaa Tourki dropping into midfield. Meanwhile, Katrin Abela took to the pitch in a direct swap with Thresa Scicluna.

Rabab Mhalli made it five in the 72nd minute, tapping home into the gaping net once more as the goalkeeper’s attempt to close down Yasmin Attard was unsuccessful. It was Mhalli’s last act of the night, with Nilayza Attard making her first appearance in return from injury in replacement of the goalscorer. She slotted on the right wing, while Katrin Abela switched to the left.

Kricak Completes The Hat-trick

Mtarfa attempted to counter-attack following defending a corner, with Shania Spiteri making another surge forward. However, Cassidy Mihalic marshalled her out of play in midfield.

More changes ensued for both sides with Yana Scicluna coming on instead of Tracy Axiak for San Gwann, while Vanessa Debattisa took to the pitch instead of Katya Camilleri.

San Gwann continued to dominate the ball with intent on adding to their tally. Andjela Kricak and Katrin Abela both tested Maria Abdilla from the penalty box in the final ten minutes. The Yellows transitioned quickly through Chaimaa Tourki who looped in Nilayza Attard, with the substitute spreading it wide to Andjela Kricak. However, she was thwarted by the combination of Corine Deguara and Shania Spiteri.

Mtarfa had an opportunity high up the pitch which they used well with a throw-in to put the ball into the box, earning a cheap corner. However, the ball into the box was well read by Nilayza Attard.

The Yellows looked to finish on a high after that, piling attack after attack in the final throes. Having orchestrated for much of the half, Andjela Kricak wrapped up the hat-trick and the victory with a sublime finish into the top-left corner from the edge of the box.

Final Score: Mtarfa 0 – 6 San Gwann

Standings & Next Matches

The victory takes San Gwann’s tally to 13 points. The Yellows will next face Lija Athletic on the 27th January at Dingli Ground (16:30). Meanwhile, Mtarfa will be bracing themselves for the encounter against Valletta earlier that day at 14:00 in the same ground.

Elsewhere, Birkirkara continued their winning form by beating Mgarr United by 4-0 in the top-4 group.

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