by Swieqi United secured a 4 – 0 victory against San Gwann to take themselves to the top of the table. Karima Abdulai grabbed a hat-trick, while Salamatu Abdulai completed the scoring. The Owls also secured their tenth clean sheet in the campaign.
Team Selection
Justyne Caruana started in goal for San Gwann, protected by an unchanged defence featuring Naomi Blundell, Nanako Kobayashi, Jeanelle Falzon and Kirstie Vella. Martina Schembri protected the defence, in the company of Rabab Mhalli and Nilayza Attard. Yasmin Attard and Shania Gheiti occupied the flanks, while Hailey Russell was the lone outlet up front.
Patricia Araujo returned between the posts for Swieqi United, behind the trusted quartet of Jade Schembri, Rafanny Mendoza Abache, Tammy Falzon and Emma Xuereb. Michaela Cachia returned to the starting eleven in the defensive midfield position. Captain Shona Zammit, Sarah Urpani and Ema Micallef retained their places in midfield, while Karima Abdulai and Salamatu Abdulai continued leading the attack.
How It Unfolded
The two teams set about their business with a clear pattern developing in their targets. Swieqi United rotated the ball against a San Gwann side that were determined in holding their shape and frustrating the Owls for as long as they could.
The Owls looked to overwhelm the right wing, with Shona Zammit looking to ping crosses into the box, while unafraid to pull the trigger from distance. However, Justyne Caruana was relatively untroubled until the 23rd minute, with the defence doing their work in clearing the lines.
Swieqi United thought they had broken the deadlock in the 23rd minute, with Ema Micallef pulling the trigger from distance, finding Justyne Caruana ready to palm it into the crossbar. Salamatu Abdulai followed up with the finish but was deemed offside.
Although they were denied the goal, the pattern of play proved successful with the team registering the opener in exactly the same way just a minute later. Ema Micallef fired from the edge of the box once more, but this time Karima Abdulai tapped home the loose ball with the goal standing.
Despite falling a goal down, San Gwann maintained their discipline with an eye to frustrate Swieqi United from extending their lead. Shania Gheiti and Kirstie Vella were busy on the flank holding off the Swieqi full-backs as they attempted to overwhelm San Gwann’s defences. Meanwhile, Martina Schembri was holding her own in front of the defence.
Still Swieqi United attempted to find the net, with Sarah Urpani registering a few shots, with a final effort rattling the crossbar just before the half-time whistle.
Half-Time Score: San Gwann 0 – 1 Swieqi United
The match kicked off in similar fashion, with Shona Zammit looking for a yellow card tugging on Hailey Russell’s shirt as the San Gwann forward looked to make a dart up the pitch hoping to inspire something for her team. Referee Abbas Faron was reluctant, to stop play, with Russell speeding forward despite the challenge. Rafanny Mendoza Abache dispossessed, with referee Abbas Faron finally obliging with the booking for the Swieqi United skipper.
The Owls kept pushing forward, with Emma Xuereb next to look for the spectacular cutting inside to curl one into the far post, only the be denied by the upright.
San Gwann’s Julian Camilleri opted for a double switch, bringing on Katrin Abela in replacement of Yasmin Attard, while Shania Gheiti gave way to. Fatma Al Girbi. She slotted in midfield, pushing Rabab Mhalli wide.
The Yellows continued to stage their siege, with Swieqi United not afraid to fire from distance, while the San Gwann defence was ready to clear anything that landed in their path. Justyne Caruana palmed an effort into the crossbar, before Jeanelle Falzon laid her body on the line to stop Karima Abdulai from firing home the rebound.
Still the Owls pushed on, with corner count rising and appearing keen on crowding Justyne Caruana’s area. Although Karima Abdulai was wide with an initial header, the Ghanaian found the net in the 70th minute, with the routine working well for the side to double the lead.
San Gwann’s Hailey Russell was on her bike once more shortly after, but lacking support except for the run forward by Nanako Kobayashi. It allowed Swieqi United to overcrowd and recover possession before sending play the other way. Meanwhile, referee Abbas Faron was keen on sticking to the rulebook, with Rafanny Mendoza Abache landing herself a yellow card for walking back onto the pitch uninvited by the official.
Karima Abdulai completed the hat-trick in the 78th minute, firing home at the near post from a Sarah Urpani cross. Emma Xuereb attempted a quick fourth, with another effort to find the far post, but this time saw it land just wide of the mark.
Changes ensued for both teams as Hailey Russell gave way to Thais Muscat for San Gwann, while Swieqi United’s Dorianne Theuma made a triple change as the final ten minutes ensued. Shannen Mallia, Thea Ida Scicluna and Miriana Conti made direct switches with Ema Micallef, Jade Schembri and Tammy Falzon.
The Owls kept up the chase for more as the match drew to a close, attempting a similar routing from a corner, which Justyne Caruana palmed over.
However, Salamatu Abdulai finished things off with a powerful effort from outside the box, to find the back of the net for the fourth goal of the night to ensure Swieqi United’s rise to the top of the table.
Standings & Next Matches
Swieqi United secured the three points necessary to lift themselves to the top of the table on 28 points, just one point ahead of Hibernians, who drop to second place. Birkirkara put themselves in third place on 26 with the victory over Mgarr United earlier in the evening, with the Greens falling to fourth on 24 points.
The Owls will finish off their calendar year commitments in the Assikura Women’s League against bottom-placed Mtarfa on Saturday 21st at 16:30 at Dingli Ground. Meanwhile, San Gwann will prepare to face the Paolites on Friday 20th at Charles Abela Stadium at 20:30.
Lead Image: Elise Bajada
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