by The Women’s Jubilee Final ended in a 3 – 2 victory for Mgarr United as they outdid Hibernians’ late comeback. Hibernians’ Martina Borg backed her team’s spirit in a match of moments, despite walking away without the trophy. Mgarr’s Ryan Vella equally remarked the balance of the match giving full credit to his players’ mentality in coming away with the win, while underlining the positive exposure of the final for the women’s game in view of the support. Mgarr captain Abigail Camilleri, as well as goalscorer & assister Alejandra Villegas Caly, gave their own thoughts and motivations in the match.
A Final Of Pure Emotion
It was Mgarr United who walked away with the trophy, but for two minutes it seemed to all that it would be Hibernians who would end their trophy drought and mark their first final in Martina Borg’s tenure with a trophy to their name. Still, the Greens had other ideas, and the outcome of the match flipped twice in a matter of six minutes, for the Greens to go from potential losers to confirmed winners of the Women’s Jubilee Cup. Needless to say, emotions ran high in extremes for both sides in the final minutes of the match.
Nicole Sciberras’ equaliser in the early throes of the second half restored parity. Hibernians’ Martina Borg appeared to have made the perfect calls from the bench, with substitutes Sarah Vella Barberi and Kayleigh Chetcuti combining for the side to go ahead in the 86th minute.
However, the lead was lost within two minutes courtesy of a strike by Alejandra Villegas Caly, before Valeria Villegas Caly sealed the win for Mgarr in injury time.
Hibernians’ Martina Borg reflected on the defeat, “I think it was a game won in moments. I don’t think that the team did anything that wasn’t in our plan. I think after we scored, there was some confusion in dealing with the aftermath. We tried to defend a bit and instead suffered the goal. They carried the momentum and were precise again with that next attack. So, I cannot say that the team did anything particularly wrong.”
Borg acknowledged the emotions of the result while calling on the side to continue moving forward, “I think the team gave a good display, especially in the second half. However, this is football. I am obviously sad today that we walk away in defeat, but we must continue looking forward.”
Mgarr captain Abigail Camilleri admitted to being somewhat speechless at the events of the match but composed enough to weigh in, “I don’t even know where to begin. I think we controlled the first half and missed some opportunities. They equalised early in the second half and I think it threw us off a bit. Then the fatigue started to kick in since it’s a much bigger stadium than what we’re used to.”
“However, overall I think somehow we had this belief that we could do it, even when we conceded the second goal. There was little time, the pressure was on, but somehow I believed and I think we did so as a team. I don’t think we expected it, but we go it over the line,” she finished.
Her coach, Ryan Vella, had just about enough of a voice to give his thoughts, “The goals after they got the lead were about mentality more than anything. I think we did well to control most of the half even after they scored the equaliser, except maybe for the one against one chance that they had. We are somewhat disappointed that they scored two out of three shots that they shot. I would say we were quite in control when in the lead, with a solid defence and keeping them in the areas that we wanted to keep them in.”
Mgarr’s coach was questioned about the impacts of not only having won the Knockout last year, but also in tasting defeat in the Super Cup final this season, to shape the response.
He said, “I think those matches certainly help shape the team. However, when you have players with the mentality such as those of Ale(jandra Villegas Caly) and Valeria (Villegas Caly), who seem to go a notch further when the going gets tough, it certainly is important to change the mentality of the team. I’ll be honest, at 2 – 2 even I was sort of calming the team that we would be fine to go to penalties, but the momentum was with the team and I think the team kept believing. So, it’s truly merit to the them.”
A Village United, In Mgarr And Beyond
A native of Mgarr, the captain Abigail Camilleri was asked for her thoughts at looking at the Mgarr United stands and seeing her supporters singing in unison with those of Valletta, with the latter having started to make their way into the stands in preparation for the men’s final as the second half progressed.
She said, “We sort of expected that something like that would happen. A lot of our people turned up, but in the end it seemed that they were almost overcome by the Valletta support. For a second I thought that they would actually not support us much, I thought that perhaps they (Valletta’s supporters) would have mistaken us for Floriana with our green and white stripes. It’s true that they were sort of shouting in our support, but it’s not quite the same as your people supporting you. It is what it is, I cannot say if it’s positive or negative.”
Cheekily asked if she would be happy to see them supporting the women’s game in their next encounter against Hibernians (on Saturday), Camilleri laughed it off, “Certainly won’t say no to more support and some more enthusiasm.”
Of course, Valletta’s supporters would have a tough choice to make, since they would equally need to show up for their own women’s team on Saturday, at the Charles Abela Stadium as they face the defending champions, Swieqi United (18:00). Though perhaps that particular stand isn’t big enough to fit all of them.
Ryan Vella, also a native of Mgarr, spoke of the way these finals unite the village prior to the match and was proven correct by the support, “Of course we are a small village and I was really happy with the turnout we had.”
Probed on his thoughts of seeing the Valletta supporters filter in, their enthusiasm and potential impact on the women’s game, he replied, “Of course it added some craziness to the stands that we are not used to seeing. However, I think all in all it was a match that gave a good advert to women’s football. I think anyone watching the match as a neutral enjoyed it.”
Meanwhile, the Villegas Caly sisters have found home in the club. Alejandra Villegas Caly authored the goal that gave Mgarr the equaliser, before setting up her sister, Valeria Villegas Caly for the winner. She was understandably elated by the combination for victory, “I am very proud of myself and my sister, as well as the club today. Valeria and I were speaking yesterday and we were discussing how much we would like to get this win since it is a unique trophy.”
She continued, revealing the importance of those closest to home in shaping this victory, “I am very thankful to God for his help in getting this win. My mum always told me that when things are going bad or there are problems, you must always stick to your head and personality up and push forward. It applies for life and for football. So when we were losing, it is that attitude that I kept and my mum’s words in my mind. She is always lifting me up and so this win is for her.”
The two teams will be at each other’s throats again on Saturday in their league encounter at the Centenary Stadium at 19:00. The fixture is another direct confrontation as Mgarr United aim to continue their perfect record, though Hibernians’ mentality will be tested, with the fixture also perfectly primed for revenge.
Lead Image: Brandon Bonett
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