by Swieqi United maintained their place at the top of the table with an 8 – 0 victory against Mtarfa. Jade Schembri opened the scoring, backed by Sarah Urpani. Karima Abdulai grabbed a hat-trick, while there were first goals for Tea Kimamo, Asana Alhassan and Nicola Lebakos.
Team Selections
There was some major reshuffling for Swieqi United in their final match for the calendar year. Chanelle Borg started between the sticks, protected by Miriana Conti and Michaela Cachia. Emma Xuereb captained the side, retaining her place on the flank, as well as Jade Schembri. Asana Alhassan made her senior debut in front of the defence, while Sarah Urpani and Ema Micallef operated further forward. Nicola Lebakos started in the number ten position, while Karima Abdulai and Salamatu Abdulai retained their partnership up front.
There were several changes for Mtarfa as well, including in the technical area, with Simon Spiteri occupying the coaching position. Mtarfa’s captain Dorienne Grech continued her stay in goal, protected by a back-five, consisting of Maria Abdilla, Rebecca Zammit, Paula Ciappara, Angele Fenech and Claire Versteegh. Shania Spiteri started in midfield alongside the returning Katie Gribbon, while Kerrie Ciappara and Saleisha Ghigo started on the flanks. Laura Echeverri Tobon was the lone attacker.
How It Unfolded
Freshly perched on the top of the league table, Swieqi United kicked off the match with an intent of grabbing an early lead five minutes into it. Emma Xuereb read a goal-kick from Mtarfa, racing forward before releasing Karima Abdulai. The Ghanaian did well to beat the goalkeeper on the dribble, but clipped the upright with the finish from the tight angle.
Still Swieqi United found the opening goal in the 12th minute. Sarah Urpani struck from distance, forcing the save from Dorienne Grech. However, Jade Schembri was first to react to the loose ball, firing the rebound into the left corner of the net to get Swieqi United going.
Corner deliveries piled for the side, but the side was unable to extend their lead. The match continued in a one-way traffic manner, with Dorianne Theuma urging the team to up the intensity of play, while Simon Spiteri pushed his team to match it in their press. The Blues showed sporadic signs of building something on the wing, with Saleisha Ghigo often the target for Shania Spiteri, before the duo looked to release Laura Echeverri Tobon. However, the forward had limited support against the Swieqi United central-back pairing.
Swieqi United doubled their lead in the 25th minute, courtesy of an effort placed into the top corner by Sarah Urpani. Once again Mtarfa were undone by an inability to follow-up the loose ball, with Paula Ciappara having put in an initial tackle to dispossess Salamatu Abdulai, but Urpani being the first to the lose ball for the strike.
The Blues managed to earn themselves a breather with a chance to launch a ball forward from midfield. Chanelle Borg was alert to Rebecca Zammit’s delivery, clutching calmly before sending her team back on the march.
Although positively on their way for the three points, Swieqi United’s evening took a turn as Salamatu Abdulai’s contribution in the match was cut short by injury in the 42nd minute. She was replaced by Tea Kimamo.
The side kept up the attacks, with Karima Abdulai denied by a combined block between Maria Abdilla and Angele Fenech, while Katie Gribbon headed out a corner delivery. Swieqi United were furious by an offside call that saw Karima Abdulai denied a goal as well in the 43rd minute. Rebecca Zammit came to Mtarfa’s rescue just before half-time, with the defender denying Tea Kimamo a dream start to the match.
Half-Time Score: Swieqi United 2 – 0 Mtarfa
There were no substitutions at the break, but both sides shifted things with Katie Gribbon deployed upfront, retreating Laura Echeverri Tobon into midfield, while Swieqi United switched to a front three.
The Owls picked up where they left off peppering shots at Dorienne Grech’s goal, while arguing a second goal chalked off for an offside call.
However, the third goal arrived just over the hour mark, with Karima Abdulai linking to a pass from Nicola Lebakos. The Ghanaian lobbed the left-footed effort into the net from inside the box.
Swieqi United’s Dorianne Theuma reacted with a triple switch in the 65th minute. The full-backs Emma Xuereb and Jade Schembri gave way to Thea Ida Scicluna and Ilona Abela respectively, with Michaela Cachia trusted with the armband. Sarah Urpani gave way to Shannen Mallia in midfield. Mtarfa’s Simon Spiteri made his first change shortly after, with Jade Azzopardi coming onto the pitch instead of Katie Gribbon.
Swieqi United extended their lead with two more goals in quick succession. Karima Abdulai fired another left-footed effort into the far right post after an initial shot had been saved in the 70th minute. Tea Kimamo grabbed her first senior goal just four minutes later. Asana Alhassan continued commanding the midfield, playing the youngster in on the wing, before Kimamo caressed the finish from the tightest of angles with her left foot.
Mtarfa were forced into another change in the 76th minute, with Angele Fenech making way to Emily Gatt due to injury. Marlene Claire Se Lavigne Sainte also made a late apppearance in attack, instead of Saleisha Ghigo. Meanwhile, Swieqi United’s Leanne Frendo also took to the pitch in replacement of Ema Micallef.
The Owls finished off the match with another rapid fire of goals. Asana Alhassan capped off her senior debut with a precise and well-driven effort from distance that fizzed into the top right corner of the net in the 88th minute. Karima Abdulai completed her hat-trick with a placed right-footed effort into the bottom right corner of the net.
Swieqi United finished off proceedings with a splitting counter-attack. Laura Echeverri Tobon earned the kick for Mtarfa, but Swieqi United were keen on keeping their clean sheet. Michaela Cachia read play, before sending the team out on the counter. Shannen Mallia fed Leanne Frendo, who switched it wide to Tea Kimamo. She crossed to Nicola Lebakos, who having supplied the assists throughout the match and been denied by the post earlier on, put herself on the scoresheet with a left-footed finish to finish off the match.
Final Score: Swieqi United 8 – 0 Mtarfa
Standings & Next Matches
Swieqi United maintain their place at the top of the table taking their tally to 31 points, a single point ahead of Hibernians in second, and two more from Birkirkara in third. Mgarr United follow with 27 points in fourth.
The Assikura Women’s League is expected to return in January 2025, with Swieqi United finishing off round two against Mgarr United, while Mtarfa will face the defending champions, Birkirkara. However, the exact fixtures are yet to be announced by the Malta Football Association.
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