Swieqi Swing Past Mtarfa

Swieqi United made it three wins in a row with a 9 – 0 win over Mtarfa. Salamatu Abdulai and Rafanny Mendoza Abache got things going, before Jade Flask converted a poker. Shona Zammit and Maria Vella completed the scoring.

Team Selections

There was a change between the sticks for Mtarfa, with Maria Abdilla trusted in goal. Gaetano Papaleo stuck with a back-five, with Rebecca Zammit captaining the side at its centre. She was flanked by Angele Fenech and Paula Ciappara, while Saleisha Ghigo and Claire Versteegh started on the widths. Kerrie Ciappara protected the defence, with Eliza Csik and Nicole Espinel Bautista operating alongside her. Estelle Borg supported Emily Farrugia in attack.

Swieqi United’s Chanelle Borg also made her first start in goal this season. She was protected by a back-four, with Miriana Conti starting alongside Rafanny Abache Mendoza, while Thea Ida Scicluna and Jade Schembri started in the full-back positions. Ema Micallef operated in front of the defence, with captain Shona Zammit and Sarah Urpani continuing to be trusted further forward. Nicola Lebakos made a start in the number ten position, with Jade Flask and Salamatu Abdulai partnering up in attack.

How It Unfolded

Swieqi United required just seconds to get catapult themselves into the lead, with Salamatu Abdulai tapping home a low cross from Thea Ida Scicluna to break the deadlock. However, the side had to wait to extend the lead.

Mtarfa attempted to make the most of some tension at the back for Swieqi United, with Kerrie Ciappara driving a shot that was blocked, before winning a corner with the second attempt. However, the team in orange defended without too much trouble before pushing forward for more.

Salamatu Abdulai was denied the second by the post, with a quarter of an hour played.However, the Owls started to rack up the set-piece opportunities and finally made it pay in the 21st minute. Rafanny Abache Mendoza towered to convert Ema Micallef’s corner delivery at the near post to give the side the comfort of a two-goal lead.

Having settled into a better rhythm, the side started to create more meaningful opportunities. Ema Micallef won the side a free-kick, with a chance to put the ball into the box. Sarah Urpani delivered onto the head of Rafanny Mendoza Abache who this time was denied by the crossbar.

Working to create chances from open play, Shona Zammit fed Jade Flask who flicked it forward but found Paula Ciappara ready to slide tackle the ball for a corner. However, having done well to defend successive corners, Mtarfa fell to the third goal by their own making with a misplaced pass at the back in the 37th minute.

Swieqi United delivered the fourth just a minute later, from another set-piece. Having had a chat about it, Shona Zammit hung it for Jade Flask who made no mistake with the header to find the far right corner.

Half-Time Score: Mtarfa 0 – 4 Swieqi United

Swieqi United’s Dorianne Theuma made one change at the break, bringing on Michaela Cachia in a straight swap with Sarah Urpani.

The game restarted in a similar vein, but Mtarfa were still determined to keep the score as low as possible. Maria Abdilla punched out a corner delivery, before Eliza Csik led the counter-attack. However, the Hungarian was closed down by Swieqi. Closely marked as a threat going forward for Mtarfa, the number eight earned the Blues a few opportunities to launch free-kicks forward, but the side could not work them to good effect.

Instead the Swieqi United train kept chugging along. Jade Flask earned the side a penalty after being clipped on the turn, with the forward taking the penalty. Maria Abdilla got something on the shot, but the power was too much to keep it out.

Swieqi United’s number eight completed the hat-trick with another header just three minutes later, converting a delivery from Shona Zammit at the far post. The forward made a poker in the 64th minute with another spot kick.

Dorianne Theuma continued to freshen things up, with Rafanny Mendoza Abache and Salamatu Abdulai making way for Tammy Falzon and Maria Vella respectively. Shannen Mallia and Ilona Abela also made an appearance in direct swaps with Ema Micallef and Jade Schembri. Meanwhile, Mtarfa sisters Kerrie Ciappara and Paula Ciappara were replaced by Shakira Falzon and Katya Camilleri.

Having done plenty of creating, Shona Zammit put her name on the scoresheet by delivering the eighth goal of the evening in the 83rd minute, with a right-footed tap in from close range. Maria Vella made another substitute appearance pay converting the final goal of the evening in injury time, with another close range effort arising from another corner opportunity.

Final Score: Mtarfa 0 – 9 Swieqi United

Next Matches

Swieqi United ensure that they maintain pace with Mgarr United on twelve points, with Birkirkara ahead with thirteen points in second and Hibernians with sixteen points at the top of the table.

The Owls will finish the round with a direct clash against Mgarr United on Saturday (12th) at Dingli Ground, with a 15:00 kick-off. Mtarfa will finish the first round against the defending champions, Birkirkara, on Thursday 10th at the Centenary Stadium (KO 20:15).

Hibernians secured a 6 – 0 victory over San Gwann earlier in the afternoon.

Lead Image: Lara Schembri 

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