Swieqi Defeat the Greens to Stay in Title Race

Swieqi grabbed three vital points against the greens on Wednesday, extending the title race by another week. Jade Flask opened the score but unfortunately hobbled off the pitch with an injury shortly after. However, Tatiana Dabney-Hawkins stepped up to the plate and her brace gave Swieqi a comfortable victory in the end.

Tense Opening and Breakthrough

The importance of the match was not lost on either side, though the two wanted to win for very different reasons. Swieqi United could not do with anything other than a win to stay in contention for the title. Meanwhile, a win for Mgarr United would have given them some breathing space over mid-table rivals Hibernians and Raiders Lija.

The two sides were locked in a midfield battle for much of the early stages. This was not for the lack of trying, but largely due to the intelligent defending displayed by both sides. Blistering runs by Swieqi’s Shona Zammit and Mgarr’s Brenda Borg gave the match a different look, but ultimately both strikes were not enough to break the deadlock.

It was ultimately current league-top scorer Jade Flask who broke the deadlock in the 21^st minute. Swieqi’s captain Dorianne Theuma found Tatiana Hawkins-Debney on the right wing, whose cross was not dealt with by Mgarr’s defence, allowing Jade Flask a free swing at the ball in the six-yard box.

Swieqi Forced into Early Substitution

Shortly before the goal, a corner for Swieqi United quickly transitioned into a penalty claim when striker Jade Flask was struck by a high boot as she attempted to head the ball at the far post. However, this was dismissed by the officials to the dismay of the Owls, whose memories of goalkeeper Cynthia Konlan being stretchered out against Birkirkara and the squad selection issues that followed, are still fresh. It was the first in a long list of disputes aimed at the referee, from both sides.

Swieqi’s number eight shirked the knock and broke the deadlock shortly after. However, she was not lucky enough to escape the match unharmed. A collision with Yulya Carella on the half-hour mark ended the match for the striker. The injury seems to be a serious one for Flask who appeared to have a bandaged knee by the half-time break, and had to be supported to make her way away from the bench.

The injury forced Judith Kuipers into her first substitution at the 36^th minute. Mirayah Aquilina replaced Flask and slotted into the right-back position, pushing Jade Schembri up the field. Meanwhile, Rebecca Atinga shifted in front of the defence, whilst duo Dorianne Theuma and Shona Zammit supported Tatiana Hawkins-Dabney who took the striker’s role for the team.

Greens Unable to Capitalize On Attacks  

The greens fought back several times in search of an equalizing goal. However, crosses into the box were often not supported by enough bodies in the box. When the link-up play was good, Swieqi’s defense often thwarted the final pass, unless the towering figure of Cynthia Konlan relieved pressure in the box.

The best spell for Mgarr United came in the final throes of the first half when successive corners mounted pressure on Swieqi. In one set-piece, Yulya Carella found Francesca Chircop at the far post, but the header was parried by Konlan for a successive corner. Captain Brenda Borg took charge from the other side, picking out Amber Grech at the near post but the number eighty-eight could not direct her header goalwards and Swieqi cleared the ball.  

Deadly Counterattacks Seal the Win for Swieqi

As the second half began, Mgarr United attempted to pick up where they left off in the first, but Swieqi were happy to soak up pressure and mount counter-attacks, making supreme use of Dabney-Hawkins’ pace up front.

The second goal came in the 57^th minute when Dorianne Theuma released Dabney-Hawkins who did not hesitate to find the net. Mgarr’s center-backs will be disappointed not to have dealt with the ball though there was some contention over the goal, as several Mgarr players argued that Dabney-Hawkins may have been in an offside position in the original build-up since the goal ultimately came from a recycled ball. However, the linesman refused such claims and the goal was given. As listed below, this was not the first nor the last questionable decision from the officials.

Shona Zammit made a good case to get on the scoresheet in the 80^th minute after making a good run into the box and striking on the turn. However, it was at a comfortable height for goalkeeper Patricia Ebejer. It was ultimately Dabney-Hawkins who sealed the deal. She completed the brace in the 82nd minute in a similar fashion to her first goal, as another ball was launched to the forward on the counter by Theuma from midfield. Once again, the number twenty did not hesitate and struck from the edge of the box to find the bottom left corner.

Controversial Refereeing

The officials received plenty of stick for their decisions or rather indecision at times. No foul was given for the high boot on Jade Flask, with the referee instead opting for a goal-kick to Mgarr.

The last five minutes of the first half also tossed up some questionable decisions, with Kelly Agius Pace appearing to be clipped right under the referee’s nose but the referee waved on. Shortly after, a collision between Mgarr’s Francesca Chircop and Swieqi’s Mariah Sciberras saw the referee blow in favour of Swieqi but then had a change of heart before the kick was taken. It is unclear whether the linesman got into the referee’s ear, but from afar it seemed like the team benches had more of a say in it. It set up Mgarr’s best spell of the game and would have truly spelled trouble for the officials had the ball found the back of the net.

Though in some cases one may argue a fifty-fifty chance considering the speed of play, bizarre decisions followed in even seemingly clear-cut cases. Around the 59^th minute, the linesman waived the flag for an offside against Swieqi, even though the ball was still in midfield.

Things took a turn for the worse as the Greens cheekily attempted to gain a few centimeters over the halfway line for the free-kick, which is an impossible position for it considering the offside rule. Swieqi’s captain Dorianne Theuma had to risk a yellow card for play impedance before the referee finally understood her plea and pushed the Mgarr’s kick-taker back behind the halfway line.

Contentious decisions by referees are a debatable side of football matches around the globe, but one truly expects better especially considering the weight of the match for both sides.

League Standings

The win means that Swieqi United have not yet yielded the league title to holders Birkirkara. The stripes cruised to a comfortable victory over Mtarfa earlier in the week. Though the Owls will be happy with the three points, Jade Flask’s injury will surely weigh heavily on the team depending on how long it keeps the striker off the pitch.

The loss for the greens catapults Hibernians back into third place following their 3-0 win against Raiders Lija FC, who remain fifth. However, Mgarr and Raiders both have a game in hand over the whites and so the mid-table positions are still up for grabs.