by Tuesday night pitted second-placed Swieqi United FC against Raiders Lija FC on a wet playing surface, which saw Swieqi take all three points with a convincing 4-1 victory.
League top scorer Jade Flask scored another brace, whilst captain Dorianne Theuma and midfielder Shona Zammit chipped in with the other two. Despite the loss, Raiders Lija FC will take heart from the goal scored by newcomer Hannah Khatib whose composure bodes well for the team’s future.
Swieqi’s Hunger For Goals
Judith Kuipers’ team started the game on the front foot and looked to press high against Lija’s persistence to play from the back. They capitalized from the tactic convincingly and registered their first shot early on, from a free kick taken by captain Theuma. However, it was at a comfortable height for Lija keeper D’Antuono who parried it to a corner.
Whenever Raiders managed to work their way up the pitch, Swieqi were efficient in building a quick counterattack which often took form in a long ball to play in runners such as Jade Flask and or Maria Sciberras.
In fact, Jade Flask broke the deadlock in the 20th minute, as she timed her run flawlessly to receive a long ball over the defence, which she flicked goal-wards with her left foot. Despite several chances, the score was still 1-0 in favour of Swieqi, when the referee blew for half-time.
Half-Time Score: Swieqi United 1 – 0 Raiders Lija FC
Raiders started the second half brightly, but the wind was taken from their sails as the tactic of passing through balls towards their centre striker were comfortably read by Swieqi goalkeeper Cynthia Konlan.
Meanwhile, Swieqi’s positive efforts for a second goal were rewarded in the 65th minute as number 10 Fernanda Peinado looked to dribble the keeper and was fouled in the box, earning penalty and a chance to double the lead. Captain Dorianne Theuma stepped up and the penalty never looked in doubt as she drove the ball venomously into the bottom right corner. Shona Zammit made it 3-0 in the 80th minute, whilst Flask wrapped things up with a fourth for the team, and the second for herself, in injury time.
Khatib’s Goal
Though Denis Guerra saw the three points ebb away, he will take heart by how well Hannah Khatib has immediately settled within the team. She was brought on in the 70th minute and was employed on the left wing. The youngster found the net in the 89th minute tapping in the ball towards the right corner from a well-drilled cross.
The number 20 took good positions and could have been through on goal more than once, but the squad did not always pick up her runs. Surely, we will see more goals from the team as the recruit gels with the rest of the squad.
Raiders Lija FC built well from the back, often through Georgiana Mifsud who once again looked like calmness personified on the ball. The team could have had better chances on goal but were once again plagued by poor decision-making in the final pass. Consolidating on this will surely see them rise in the table.
International Break & Return to Action
The Assikura Women’s League will be on hold as players are called for the international break. Swieqi United will have a tough encounter on their hands on their return on the 1st March, as they will face league leaders Birkirkara FC.
The stripes beat them in the reverse fixture and those three points are the only ones that separate the two. So Kuipers’ team has all the motivation needed to make amends and set up a great finale towards the end of the season. The international break comes at the wrong time for the teams who are both in good form, as Birkirkara FC also beat San Gwann comfortably on the same night.
Meanwhile, Raiders Lija FC will have a longer break as they will return on the 8th March. They will fancy the return game against bottom strugglers Mtarfa and will look to earn three points from the encounter to challenge for 3rd place.
