by Swieqi United delivered a 3-0 victory over Mgarr United to retain second-place while also closing the gap to first place back to five points. Kaysia Micallef gave the Owls the lead before the break, while Jade Flask completed a brace to consolidate the victory in the second half. Swieqi United’s defence enjoys their tenth clean sheet of the season.
Team Selections
Patricia Araujo continued her stay in goal for Swieqi United. There was one change in defence, with Thea Ida Scicluna completing the back four alongside Rafanny Abache Mendoza, Tammy Falzon and Jade Schembri. Shona Zammit led in the middle of the pitch, alongside Michaela Cachia and Salamatu Abdulai. Jade Flask spearheaded the attack, flanked by Karima Abdulai and Kaysia Micallef.
Mgarr United continued to put faith in Patricia Ebejer in goal. Leanne Cefai started alongside Abigail Camilleri in the centre of the defence, while Rebecca Bajada and Anastasia Sivolobova started in the full-back positions. Captain Maia Debono started alongside Brenda Borg. Yulya Carella and Kayah Abela Sciberras occupied the flanks, while Fernanda Peinado supported Daniela Said Ebejer in attack.
Micallef Gets Swieqi Going
Swieqi United were eager to get themselves on the front foot from the go, developing an early opportunity as Kaysia Micallef crossed to Jade Flask. The striker got a boot on it but Patricia Ebejer shifted well to collect.
Mgarr United responded with a free-kick on the left side of the box, which Brenda Borg fired with pace but central to Patricia Araujo who collected. The Greens enjoyed some momentum but found the Swieqi United defence ready to pounce as Fernanda Peinado attempted to link with Daniela Said Ebejer in attack.
Neither side could trouble from set-pieces. The midfield battle ensued with Michaela Cachia putting in the hard yards to win the ball back for Swieqi United. Shona Zammit fired two long-range efforts, with Patricia Ebejer getting behind the first and the other just flying above the crossbar. Mgarr United’s Brenda Borg responded with a strike of her own, which also found Patricia Araujo at the end of it.
Swieqi United developed a major opportunity a few minutes after the half-hour mark as Jade Flask was released behind. However, she was quickly met by the surging Patricia Ebejer who did well to block the right-footed effort.
However, the Owls found their opening goal in the 39th minute through Kaysia Micallef. Jade Schembri delivered a cross which was deflected by Mgarr United’s defence into the path of Kaysia Micallef who was arriving at the far side of the box. The youngster took a touch before firing low into the far corner of the net to break the deadlock.
Half-Time Score: Swieqi United 1 – 0 Mgarr United
Mgarr United’s Ryan Vella made two swaps at the break, bringing on Mirayah Aquilina in the right-back position, while Rodiana Borg occupied the left wing. They were introduced instead of captain Maia Debono and Kayah Abela Sciberras. Anastasia Sivolobova moved into midfield, while Yulya Carella shifted centrally. Daniela Ebejer Said also went onto the right-wing, while Fernanda Peinado became the central attacker. Brenda Borg took the captain’s armband in Debono’s stead.
Flask Brace Extends The Lead
Swieqi United looked to consolidate their lead on the restart. Salamatu Abdulai crossed into Shona Zammit whose header was dealt with by Mgarrr United’s defence. Abdulai was the next to run free on the left wing, but her effort to place into the far right corner fizzed just wide.
The Owls developed another major opportunity close to the hour mark, through Karima Abdulai who was the next to power past the defence. However, the Ghanaian took a heavy touch as she tried to dribble past the goalkeeper, sending her wide. Kaysia Micallef attempted to convert from the cut-back, but Patricia Ebejer recovered well to make the save.
The Owls’ Rafanny Abache Mendoza attempted to convert from a Shona Zammit free-kick delivery, but Leanne Cefai headed clear. Anastasia Sivolobova responded with a strike from distance which veered wide off the mark. Meanwhile, the Greens’ Daniela Said Ebejer needed some treatment before ultimately being replaced in the 71st minute by Shakira Camilleri.
Having knocked on the door, Swieqi United doubled their lead in the 74th minute through Jade Flask who headed home from Shona Zammit’s corner delivery. The striker rose well to place the header into the far left corner of the goal.
Flask completed the brace to put Swieqi United in the comfort of a three-goal advantage just three minutes later, with her run being picked out by Shona Zammit once more. Swieqi’s number eight* curled a left-footed effort into the near corner from just inside the box, before being engulfed by her teammates.
Ema Micallef took to the pitch in replacement of Michaela Cachia for the final ten minutes. She got herself immediately into the thick of things, picked out by Salamatu Abdulai at the edge of the box. However, her effort rolled wide of the mark.
Her introduction was followed by that of Dorianne Theuma who replaced Kaysia Micallef. The Swieqi United skipper slotted centrally. Salamatu Abdulai stepped off the pitch shortly after, replaced by Maria Vella who occupied the right wing position.
Mgarr United attempted to get a goal back in the final throes of the match. Abigail Camilleri attempted to pick out a teammate from a midfield free-kick. However, Patricia Aruajo collected the aerial delivery. The Greens developed a major opportunity into the 90th minute as Fernanda Peinado was released behind, but pulled the effort wide of the mark. The Greens could not trouble from consecutive corners, before Brenda Borg fired an effort from distance that sailed just wide of the goal mark.
Final Score: Swieqi United 3 – 0 Mgarr United
Standings & Next Matches
Swieqi United fully capitalise on Birkirkara’s defeat to Hibernians to reduce the gap to the top back to five points with three games left. The Owls will begin the final round of fixtures against Hibernians with the two still separated by just two points. They meet at the Centenary Stadium on Thursday 7th March at 20:15. Meanwhile, Mgarr United will face the league leaders Birkirkara on Friday 8th at the Victor Tedesco Stadium (20:30).
*Edit: Player number previously incorrectly identified as number eleven.
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