by Swieqi United signed off with a 14–1 win over Valletta, the largest margin of the campaign, as Salamatu Abdulai netted five, with Jade Flask earning a hat-trick, while Shona Zammit, Andjela Kricak and Sara Saliba added braces. Hannah Grima scored for Valletta, but Swieqi’s depth and second-half intensity proved decisive to close off the league commitments ahead of the Knockout.
Team Selections
Gabriella Grima stood in goal as Valletta took to the pitch, behind a quartet of Lorna-Maria Cassar, Shakira Bugeja, Kristina Zammit and Kady Zammit. Hannah Grima started in front of the defence, with captain Eliza Csik parnering Carla Giles further forward. Edera Marmara’ and Somaya Muscat occupied the flanks while Ines Mohammed was the lone attacker.
Meanwhile, Erika Muscat was given the nod by Dorianne Theuma in goal. Jade Schembri and Thea Ida Scicluna started on the flanks as Miriana Conti partnered Tammy Falzon in defence. Andjela Kricak started at the base of the diamond, with Michaela Cachia trusted in the playmaker’s role, while captain Shona Zammit and Shannen Mallia completing the midfield. Salamatu Abdulai and Jade Flask continued their growing partnership in midfield.
How It Unfolded
Swieqi set the tone early, with Shona Zammit releasing Salamatu Abdulai over the top inside the opening minute, though Gabriella Grima reacted quickly off her line.
The breakthrough arrived in the 4th minute. Shona Zammit again found Salamatu Abdulai with a ball in behind, and although the initial effort lacked conviction, the Ghanaian forward reacted quickest to convert the rebound.
Swieqi continued to dominate possession, creating further openings through combinations in midfield. Their second goal came in the 15th minute, as Abdulai cushioned a long ball into the path of Jade Flask, who finished low into the corner — a goal that drew brief offside appeals.
Valletta responded positively. From a corner won by Edera Marmara, Ines Mohammed delivered into a dangerous area, with Erika Muscat getting a touch onto the crossbar before Hannah Grima forced the ball over the line to reduce the deficit.
Moments later came one of Valletta’s biggest opportunities of the half. A free-kick in a shooting position fell to Shakira Bugeja, but her effort was scooped over the bar — a key moment that could have shifted momentum at 2–1.
Swieqi remained ruthless. In the 32nd minute, Andjela Kricak drove into the box before picking out Shona Zammit, who finished emphatically into the roof of the net. Just a minute later, Shannen Mallia released Jade Flask, who added her second with a composed finish from close range.
Swieqi’s attacking momentum continued, with Miriana Conti providing a long ball over the top for Salamatu Abdulai, whose initial effort was saved before she reacted quickest to convert the rebound for her second of the match and Swieqi’s fifth before the break.
Half-Time Score: Valletta 1 – 5 Swieqi United
Both sides turned to their benches at the break.
Swieqi’s Dorianne Theuma made a triple change, introducing Patricia Araujo, Emma Xuereb and Sara Saliba in place of Erika Muscat, Thea Ida Scicluna and Shannen Mallia, maintaining their attacking structure while refreshing key areas.
Valletta’s Anton Cremona also reshuffled, with Aalliyah Bonnici Carbonaro, Hannah Fenech, Danicia Ciantar and Leona Carabott coming on for Kady Zammit, Kristina Zammit, Carla Giles and Somaya Muscat, as they looked to regain stability.
Swieqi resumed with the same intensity after the restart. Within a minute, Salamatu Abdulai completed her hat-trick with a left-footed finish, before Shona Zammit added her second, finishing from close range after sustained pressure.
Jade Flask then completed her hat-trick, finishing low once more after being released in space, as Swieqi’s attacking rotations continued to create openings.
Valletta introduced a further change in the 57th minute, with Kelsey Cachia replacing Edera Marmara, but Swieqi continued to dominate.
Andjela Kricak added Swieqi’s ninth, before Salamatu Abdulai struck again following a blocked effort by Lorna Maria Cassar that fell kindly for the forward.
Sara Saliba entered the scoresheet with a rebound finish in the 67th minute having been already denied by the crossbar, before Abdulai capitalised on another parry from Gabriella Grima to complete her five-goal haul.
Further changes saw Kim Fava and Valentina Rapa introduced for Jade Flask and Tammy Falzon, as Swieqi maintained their attacking approach.
Andjela Kricak added a second from long range, while Sara Saliba completed her brace with a composed finish late on, narrowly missing out on a hat-trick in the closing stages.
Final Score: Valletta 1 – 14 Swieqi United
Standings & Upcoming Matches
Last year’s champions appeared hungry for a statement end to their league commitments, recording the largest margin of victory in the competition this season thus far. The result also saw Salamatu Abdulai strengthen her position at the top of the scoring charts, netting five goals to place herself firmly in contention to finish the campaign as leading scorer.
With league commitments wrapped up, the Owls will set sight on a preliminary round match in the Assikura Women’s Knockout against Birkirkara on Saturday 4th April, with hopes of going far in the Knockout as they seek the opportunity to the Super Cup claimed already this season. Valletta receive a bye into the semi-finals following the draw. The exact match time and venue are still to be announced.
Until then, today will present a double-header to finish off the Assikura Women’s League as Birkirkara and San Gwann face off at Dingli Ground (16:00), before Hibernians face Mgarr United at the Centenary Stadium to close off the league with the trophy celebrations for Mgarr United at 18:00. The latter go into the match searching to finish the league run unbeaten.
Assikura Women's League - Standings
Lead Image: Dorienne Grech
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