by Swieqi United bounced back with a 3 – 0 victory against Hibernians to break the forty point mark. Jade Flask delivered a brace by half-time to give comfort in the lead. Hibernians could not close the gap in the score before receiving a direct sending off in injury time. Rafanny Mendoza Abache converted from the spot to wrap up the affair. Shona Zammit celebrated her 100th cap with the Owls with an assist.
Team Selections
Hibernians’ Elizabeth Harrington started by a defensive trio of Amber Galea, Natalee Geren and Georgiana Mifsud. Chloe Ellul and Ileana Farrugia started on the wings, while Kayleigh Chetcuti and Nicole Sciberras continued to operate in midfield. Joelma Alves Gabriel led the attack, flanked by captain Martina Borg and Alexis Espitia.
Swieqi United’s Patricia Araujo continued her stay behind an unchanged back-four consisting of Emma Xuereb, Rafanny Mendoza Abache, Tammy Falzon and Jade Schembri. Michaela Cachia continued as the holding midfielder behind Sarah Urpani and captain Shona Zammit. Salamatu Abdulai started in the playmaker position behind the attacking duo of Jade Flask and Karima Abdulai.
Swieqi United captain, Shona Zammit, marked her 100th appearance with the club in the match.
How It Unfolded
Swieqi United started off with an early opportunity through a free-kick which Shona Zammit delivered into the box. However, Jade Flask was whiskers away from making the connection for the header, letting Hibernians off the hook early on.
Despite this, the game struggled to come to life, with half-attempts from either team to breach the defences. Swieqi United had the better spells of possession, but both goalkeepers were relatively untroubled for the opening twenty minutes.
This changed as Shona Zammit teased a corner into the six-yard-box, which Elizabeth Harrington palmed into the path of Sarah Urpani. However, the midfielder’s effort was blocked by the Hibernians defence.
Having sounded the warning, Swieqi United got purchase on their effort in the 23rd minute. Shona Zammit hung a ball from a free-kick on the left wing and this time, Jade Flask connected with the header to send the team into the lead.
Hibernians attempted to get an immediate response with consecutive corners which Swieqi United fended off. The Paolites sparked some creativity into their attack with a diagonal from defence toward Ileana Farrugia who made the forward run. She linked with Joelma Alves Gabriel, whose effort was parried for a corner by Patricia Araujo. The Brazilian put a dangerous ball in shortly after, but this time it was Alexis Espitia who was just shy of making the connection to head it home.
Momentum swung back to Swieqi United for the latter portion of the half, with the Paolites unable to get their midfield into the game. Forced to go long, Swieqi United’s defence picked off the balls with an intent on going forward on the counter.
However, neither coach appeared happy as the half drew to a close, with Swieqi struggling to transition effectively and Hibernians stalled in creating a real threat.
It was Swieqi United who clicked in place just before half-time as Salamatu Abdulai launched a ball forward to find Jade Flask’s forward run. The number eight struck a left boot on the volley to lob Elizabeth Harrington and hand the team the comfort of a two goal lead.
Half-Time Score: Hibernians 0 – 2 Swieqi United
Hibernians’ Kenneth Costantino made an attacking switch at the break, bringing on Leah Ayres instead of Chloe Ellul. Ayres spearheaded the attack, pushing Joelma Alves Gabriel wide, while Alexis Espitia operated in the vacated wing-back position.
The Paolites pushed forward with the diagonal to Ileana Farrugia continuing to be a well worn approach. However, Tammy Falzon read the cross in before Joelma Alves Gabriel fizzed in a dangerous delivery into the box that just missed the finishing touch.
The team in white pushed forward but struggled to connect in the final third. On the other hand, Swieqi United struggled to make the pace pay off in transition against the Hibernians defence.
With time ticking away, Kenneth Costantino made two more changes, bringing on Amy Busuttil in midfield instead of Kayleigh Chetcuti, before Ileana Farrugia was substituted by Yolande Attard.
However, Swieqi United still seemed the more threatening of the two. Emma Xuereb was encouraged for the overlap and picked out by Shona Zammit. The full back cut a pass to Karima Abdulai who held her run and fired from distance. However, Elizabeth Harrington was well positioned to make the save.
Jade Flask’s evening ended abruptly following a clattering by Georgiana Mifsud, with Ema Micallef coming on in her stead for the final few minutes of the match.
Hibernians managed to click something into gear on the ninety, with the same diagonal making it to the left wing, this time to Yolande Attard. She cut-back the pass to Amy Busuttil who opened space to strike the effort. However, Patricia Araujo made the save to keep the clean sheet intact.
Dorianne Theuma made one more change in the dying moments, swapping Ylenia Azzopardi with Michaela Cachia for her debut.
However there was still another moment left in the match as Karima Abdulai surged on pace, dribbling past Elizabeth Harrington before being pulled back in the box by Yolande Attard. The substitute saw a direct red by referee Raiden Psaila. Rafanny Mendoza Abache closed off proceedings burying the spot kick into the right side of the net.
Final Score: Hibernians 0 – 3 Swieqi United
Standings & Next Matches
Swieqi United propel themselves to 42 points at the top of the table. They could be joined by Mgarr United, should the Greens manage to get the better of Birkirkara this evening at the Charles Abela Stadium (20:30).
Swieqi United & Mgarr United will brace themselves for a direct confrontation at the Charles Abela Stadium on Saturday 15th March at 16:30. Birkirkara and Hibernians open the afternoon of football at 14:00.
Lead Image: Michael Azzopardi (Swieqi United FC)
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[…] Doing so would push them to close the gap to Hibernians to two points, following the latter’s defeat to Swieqi United yesterday. However, it would also enable Swieqi United to carve a three point lead in the table, with a […]