by Swieqi United ensured their place in the semi-finals with an 11-0 victory over Mtarfa. Ana Araujo Rodrigues and Karima Abdulai marked their debut in the competition with a hat-trick apiece. Jade Flask was also on the scoresheet, while Shona Zammit and Salamatu Abdulai completed the scoring with a brace each.
Team Selections
Mtarfa’s Maria Abdilla started in goal. She was protected by Darya Attard and Rebecca Zammit, flanked by Jasmine Camilleri and Corine Deguara. Shania Spiteri and Kerrie Ciappara started in front of the defence. Angele Fenech and Estelle Borg started on the wings, with captain Dorienne Grech operating in the number ten position. Jade Azzopardi was the lone attacker.
Patricia Araujo continued her stay in goal for Swieqi United. Tammy Falzon and captain Dorianne Theuma started in the centre of the defence. Kaysia Micallef and Thea Ida Scicluna acted as the full-backs. Shona Zammit started alongside Michaela Cachia in midfield, with Salamatu Abdulai operating further forward. Jade Flask and Karima Abdulai provided the width to Ana Araujo Rodrigues in attack.
Swieqi United In Control
The Owls’ Shona Zammit fired the first warning shot three minutes into the match, denied from opening the scoring by the crossbar. Jade Flask next attempted to head home from Karima Abdulai’s cross but the tight angle proved difficult.
Instead, it was Ana Araujo Rodrigues who fired a shot from distance, which was palmed into the left side of the net for the opening goal six minutes in. Karima Abdulai doubled the lead four minutes later, converting a cross low into the net. Jade Flask made it three a minute later with a powerful header, directing Dorianne Theuma’s delivery into the net from a corner.
Swieqi United continued to build possession with purpose, building play from back to front effectively to create chances. Several players were involved in attack creation, with Michaela Cachia and Shona Zammit popping up to link play effectively. Cachia released Jade Flask with a neat pass, with the forward drifting inside well but pulling the effort just wide. Dorianne Theuma was next to spot the forward’s run inside, with Flask attempting to head it home, but wide with the finish. In another attempt, it was Jade Flask who looked to tee up Karima Abdulai with a cross, but the Ghanaian fired high from the volley.
Ana Araujo Rodrigues doubled her tally and took Swieqi United’s into four twenty-five minutes into it, placing an effort into the right side of the net from inside the box.
The Blues were invited forward by Swieqi United in the 29th minute and looked keen to capitalise. Shania Spiteri snatched possession high up the pitch, before finding Jade Azzopardi behind the defence. However, Patricia Araujo closed the angle well to make the save.
Swieqi United’s Karima Abdulai converted the fifth on the half-hour mark, running free into the box and slotting home a low shot into the near post. Shona Zammit made it six two minutes later with a chip into the right side of the net. The midfielder made space for the shot following a knock-down header from Jade Flask, who kept play going from a cross from Kaysia Micallef.
Swieqi United’s wide forward swapped sides shortly after, giving Mtarfa’s defence a different challenge to contend with. Karima Abdulai fired home the eighth of the afternoon and completed her hat-trick in the 43rd minute. The Ghanaian struck low into the net from a tight angle after linking well with Salamatu Abdulai to create the space.
Half-Time Score: Mtarfa 0 – 8 Swieqi United
Swieqi Extend
There were four changes for Swieqi United at the break. Chanelle Borg replaced Patricia Araujo in goal. There was a swap in defence with Leanne Frendo exchaging with Thea Ida Scicluna as full-back. Dorianne Theuma gave way to Shannen Mallia who slotted in midfield, while Michaela Cachia took up the defensive duties. Maria Vella replaced Karima Abdulai on the wing.
The Owls picked up were they left off. Jade Flask and Shona Zammit combined once more, but Zammit’s effort went to the wrong side of the post. Zammit delivered a corner into a good area shortly after, but Mtarfa’s Angele Fenech cleared.
The Blues’ Shania Spiteri continued showing some grit, pushing forward on a counter attack. However, the midfielder was not on the same wavelength with Jade Azzopardi, with the chance ebbing away due to the two being of different minds in how to build the attack.
Swieqi United kept searching for more, coming very close in the 55th minute with Jade Flask easing past her marker before pulling the trigger. Maria Abdilla parried the shot, with Salamatu Abdulai’s rebound blocked by Corine Deguara. Jade Flask was on the loose two minutes later, this time opting to cut back to Salamatu Abdulai who placed the ball onto the crossbar from ten yards.
Mtarfa’s Dorienne Grech gave way to Paula Ciappara, while Katya Camilleri substituted Angele Fenech. Ciappara slotted in attack, while Jade Azzopardi moved to the wing.
Swieqi United found their first goal of the half, and the ninth of the match, just after the hour mark. Ana Araujo Rodrigues fed Salamatu Abdulai who this time placed the shot into the right side of the net. Shona Zammit made it ten in the 67th minute with a strike into the near left post.
Meanwhile, Swieqi United’s substitutes appeared settled in the match, keen to get on the ball and combining with the rest of the pack to keep the attacks in flow. A swap at full-back with Kaysia Micallef slotting on the left, while Leanne Frendo shifted to the right, ensued for the final twenty minutes. Despite pushed back in defence, Michaela Cachia still found a way to join in on the attacks, dribbling past several markers to get Swieqi going into an attack before finding a teammate, with the team winning another corner but not able to capitalise.
Mtarfa made two more changes shortly after, as Elisa Azzopardi replaced Jade Azzopardi, while Oumayma Jelili swapped with Kerrie Ciappara.
Maria Abdilla was called into action twice more as Kaysia Micallef linked with Shona Zammit with a low cross, but the goalkeeper saved the effort toward the far post. Ana Araujo Rodrigues’ attempt to find the goal with a header from a corner was also held by the goalkeeper, before Mtarfa made a swap between the post, bringing on Amy Mizzi.
The Owls kept up the pace, with Maria Vella having won a corner for the team earlier on, continuing the forward momentum to fashion space for a cross. However, Amy Mizzi gathered. Ana Araujo Rodrigues completed the hat-trick with a rebound, after Salamatu Abdulai’s initial effort had been saved by Mizzi.
Despite the score, Mtarfa’s Jasmine Camilleri still had some interest in going forward, shutting the door on Kaysia Micallef before coming away with the ball and winning a free-kick for the team to relieve pressure in their own half. However, the side could not convert it into a substantial attack.
Final Score: Mtarfa 0 – 11 Swieqi United
Semi-Finals
The holders thus progress into the semi-final against Hibernians, in a rematch of last year’s final. Elsewhere Valletta took their unbeaten streak into ten (across all competitions) following victory over San Gwann. They will meet Birkirkara.
The semi-finals are expected to be played this upcoming week, between the 18th and 20th of April. However, the fixtures are yet to be announced, less than a week before they are due.
Lead Image: Lara Schembri
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[…] unbeaten streak into ten, across all competitions. The other semi-final will be played between Swieqi United and Hibernians, in a rematch of last year’s […]