by Swieqi United made it three wins in succession, with a 10-0 win over Mtarfa. Dorianne Theuma secured a brace, while Salamatu Abdulai chipped in with four goals. Michaela Cachia, Karima Abdulai, Shona Zammit and Jade Schembri completed the scoring.
Team Selections
Mtarfa’s captain Dorienne Grech started in goal. There were several changes in defence. Nicole Mifsud partnered Rebecca Zammit in the centre of defence, while Elisa Azzopardi and Kerrie Ciappara occupied the flanks. Eliza Czik continued her stay in midfield together with Shania Spiteri and Oumayma Jelili. Laura Echeverri Tobon and Paula Ciappara provided the width in attack to Estelle Borg.
Patricia Araujo started in goal for Swieqi United. There were a few changes in defence as Gabrielle Tonna started in the centre-back partnership with Rafanny Abache Mendoza. Thea Ida Scicluna started in the right-back role against her former team, while Leanne Frendo was trusted with the left. Michaela Cachia returned to the starting eleven alongside, captain Dorianne Theuma and Shona Zammit who retained their place in the line-up. There was one change in attack, as Maria Vella started on the right wing, ahead of Mariah Sciberras who dropped to the bench. Karima Abdulai continued her stay on the left wing, while Salamatu Abdulai retained her place in the centre of attack.
Swieqi Open The Scoring
There was a certain sense of inevitability in the Mtarfa team, who appeared resigned to their fate as from the start but still attempted to stay in the game for as long as possible. Swieqi United rotated the ball well, generating a few chances but Nicole Mifsud and Dorienne Grech often combined well to deny them. Despite this, the Owls opened the scoring from a direct free-kick courtesy of Dorianne Theuma in the sixth minute.
The team in orange kept up the attacking intent. Dorianne Theuma released Salamatu Abdulai a few minutes later but Dorienne Grech was equal to the strike. A few minutes later Karima Abdulai cut-back to Dorianne Theuma who skied the shot from the edge of the area.
Abdulai’s Hat-Trick
Despite Mtarfa’s industry to keep the Owls at bay, Salamatu Abdulai hit home the second close to quarter of an hour of play, by connecting to a low cross from Karima Abdulai. The Ghanaian got her second just three minutes with an exactly the same build-up down the left wing, as Dorianne Theuma played into Karima Abdulai whose cross was converted by compatriot Salamatu Abdulai.
Mtarfa looked to get something going in attack with Eliza Czik often being the one to cajole her team forward. Estelle Borg struck from distance just into the 22nd minute but Patricia Araujo was equal to the shot.
There was little respite as Salamatu Abdulai completed her hat-trick in the 24th minute with a low-finish after getting released behind once more. The Ghanaian attempted to pick out a teammate with a cross just a minute later but it curled out, before Maria Vella struck a shot that skimmed just wide of the goal.
The fifth goal arrived on the half-hour mark. Gabrielle Tonna showed good defending to deny Mtarfa any forward momentum before setting her team straight on the attack. Mtarfa got something on Michaela Cachia’s shot but it wrong-footed the goalkeeper who saw it rolling into the other side of the net.
No Respite
Despite the scoreline, Mtarfa’s Eliza Czik continued to try to spark something by attempting to release Estelle Borg behind the defence. However, Swieqi United’s back-line was alert to the danger. The counter-attack was clinical, this time Salamatu Abdulai being the assister with a cross toward Karima Abdulai who tapped home the sixth at the far post just two minutes later.
Mtarfa’s defence kept up their resolve to try to limit the scoreline, with Nicole Mifsud continuing to make several blocks. Despite this, the Owls kept flooding forward. Salamatu Abdulai made it seven on the 35th minute mark despite Dorienne Grech making the initial save.
The Owls could have had more with Shona Zammit and Dorianne Theuma both releasing the forwards in attack, Theuma also forced a parry from Mtarfa’s goalkeeper Grech. Karima Abdulai connected to Shona Zammit’s corner delivery but her header was deemed to have been off-target by the officials, to the dismay of the Owls who felt there was a deflection. Abdulai attempted to find the top-corner with a strike shortly after but saw her effort veer just off target.
Meanwhile, Mtarfa attempted to make an impact out front as Eliza Czik drew the foul to get her team up the pitch. Nicole Mifsud delivered winning a rather cheap corner. Rebecca Zammit delivered to Czik who did not get the right connection on the volley but enough to deflect it toward Shania Spiteri who forced a save from Patricia Araujo. Swieqi United were quickly on the counter. Although Shona Zammit released Salamatu Abdulai behind once more, Dorienne Grech made the save to limit the damage before the break.
Half-Time Score: Mtarfa 0 – 7 Swieqi United
Swieqi Search For More
Swieqi United made three changes at the break. Patricia Araujo was replaced by Chanelle borg, while Tammy Falzon took to the pitch instead of Rafanny Abache Mendoza. Mariah Sciberras replaced Salamatu Abdulai, slotting into her preferred left wing role, while Karima Abdulai occupied the central striker role. Mtarfa’s Elisa Azzopardi shifted forward, with Paula Ciappara pushed back as the left-back.
The Owls had three corners within a span of two minutes on the restart, but the delivery was never quite on the mark. Mtarfa continued to struggle to get a footing in the match, except for the odd burst through midfield. Meanwhile, the Owls tried to rediscover the intensity they had in the opening forty-five minutes.
Acting in the absence of Saviour Darmanin, assistant coach Matthew Dowling opted to bring on Jade Schembri in the 53rd minute in replacement of Karima Abdulai. Schembri slotted on the right wing, pushing Maria Vella into the central striking role. The substitute was lively, surging forward together with Vella whose runs were almost picked out by Theuma, only for Dorienne Grech to quickly come off her line to snuff out the attack.
The team almost capitalised on another counter-attack after retrieving possession in their half. Dorianne Theuma linked with Mariah Sciberras who found Shona Zammit out wide. However, her cross was gobbled up by Grech once more. Despite this, they would not be kept out for long and Zammit got her name on the scoresheet in the 58th minute. The midfielder’s run into space on the left wing was picked out by Dorianne Theuma. Finding herself in a one-on-one with the goalkeeper, Zammit dribbled past before striking into the gaping net from a tight angle for the eighth of the afternoon.
Maria Vella and Mariah Sciberras both attempted to work the goalkeeper with strikes, while Mtarfa’s back-line attempted to work with Grech to minimise the damage. Despite this, Dorianne Theuma finished the ninth directly from the corner flag in the 66th minute, with the ball getting deflected into the net.
Leanne Frendo continued to show good momentum on the right side, going forward to link with Theuma before the young full-back saw her strike veer just wide of the mark. Having succeeded in beating Grech from a set-piece earlier in the match, Theuma struck from another goalward, but the central strike was of no trouble for Mtarfa’s goalkeeper.
At the other end, the Blues attempted to make headway on the right-wing through Laura Echeverri Tobon, but the attack was snuffed out by Thea Ida Scicluna. Simon Spiteri made another change in bringing on Rachel Sultana in a straight swap with Estelle Borg. There was also a shift as Shania Spiteri occupied the full-back role while Kerrie Ciappara moved into midfield.
The Owls kept up the attack, with Elisa Azzopardi making a good interception out wide to deny an attack, while Rebecca Zammit blocked an attempt by Maria Vella. Mtarfa’s Simon Spiteri looked to his bench once more in the 76th minute, with Maria Abdilla replacing Nicole Mifsud. Abdilla slotted in midfield, pushing Eliza Czik into the centre of the defence.
The make-shift defender appeared unfazed by the change and was keen to make another dart upward after intercepting a forward pass. Depsite this, the chance ebbed away as Kerrie Ciappara attempted to release Oumayma Jelili behind, only for her to have abandoned her forward run. The Blues’ coach made one final change bringing on Katya Camilleri on the left wing in replacement of Laura Echeverri Tobon, while Marlene De Lavigne Sainte came on in midfield.
The Owls went into double-figures in the 85th minute, with Jade Schembri converting the cross from fellow substitute Mariah Sciberras from six yards.
Final Score: Mtarfa 0 – 10 Swieqi United
Next Matches
Swieqi United start their second round commitments with another win, making it their third on the bounce, keeping up with Hibernians on points, while having a healthier goal-difference.
They will brace themselves for another top-table clash against Birkirkara, whom they face again on Thursday 16th November at 20:00 at the Centenary Stadium. The Stripes will come into the match having beaten Lija Athletic by 4-0 later in the afternoon.
Meanwhile, Mtarfa will look to get something from the match against Valletta the next day, Friday 17th November, at the same venue (20:15).
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