by Swieqi United and Mgarr United will be meeting in the Super Cup final for the first time on Sunday at 18:00 at the Centenary Stadium. A look at the six head to head matches between the two teams since Dorianne Theuma and Ryan Vella took charge sets the backdrop for an anticipated final that has been brewing since last May and perhaps gives insight into when you might want to sit tight in your seat.
Six Meets Between The Two Coaches Who Clinched Last Year’s Titles
While Swieqi United and Mgarr United have met several times, the two teams have gotten fresh starts under their two coaches, Dorianne Theuma and Ryan Vella. The matches between the two have tossed up some intriguing battles and Sunday’s final is expected to be no different. The excitement will only simmer further with a trophy promised at the end of it.
The final will be played at the Centenary Stadium at 18:00, with the two clubs rallying their troops in support. For those who cannot make it to the stadium and want to peek in at two of Malta’s finest sides, the match will also be live-streamed on the Malta FA channel on Youtube.
Swieqi United have the bigger trophy haul with one of each of the major titles available already in the cabinet, two of which came last year. However, Mgarr United would love nothing more than to add a buddy next to their recently earned Knockout trophy.
It will be the first final that the two sides are meeting in. Swieqi United come into it having lifted the league title. They are also the current holders of the Super Cup after finally claiming it from Birkirkara last year, in what proved to be the first of two titles won under Dorianne Theuma leadership in her first year in charge.
Meanwhile, Mgarr United earned the place in the Super Cup final by beating Hibernians to take last year’s Assikura Women’s Knockout. It also marks a successful start under Ryan Vella’s leadership, who led the side to their first ever trophy despite being one of the oldest standing teams in the women’s game.
Sunday’s match will mark the seventh meet between the two coaches since officially taking the reigns during the summer of 2024. The two sides came in first and second in last year’s league race, with Swieqi United winning that one.
However, in truth there was nothing to separate the two sides in the direct confrontations last year in what proved to be a few of the most intriguing and unpredictable matches of the season. Both won two matches apiece and the other match ended in a goalless stalemate.
Mgarr United edged out the head to head clinching the third win over Swieqi United in the opening matchday of this year’s league by 2 – 0, two weeks ago. It stirs the pot just a bit further.
So, beyond wins and losses, what does the recent history between the two under Dorianne Theuma and Ryan Vella’s leadership actually suggest?
Penalties & Late Drama Not Excluded, But Not The Most Crucial
Despite being close in wins, Mgarr United have been the more goal-driven of the two in earning them. They scored a total of five goals, to Swieqi United’s two in the direct confrontations since the two coaches took charge. Despite having a coach who is Malta’s most prolific goalscorer, Swieqi under Dorianne Theuma’s tutelage have been a side that have not been afraid to back themselves to defend slender leads.
The expectation of drama is high, with the Greens earning a total of three penalties across the matches and scoring twice. Swieqi United’s Patricia Araujo has denied them twice too, but the Greens were quickest on the rebound with one of them.
However, as the heat map shows, the majority of goals have also arrived from open play. Crosses and high pressure have been vital for Swieqi, but the Greens have found the target from tight angles, exploiting the space between the full-back and the centre-backs.
Valeria Villegas Caly remains the most dangerous forward in the direct matches, netting three goals out of five for Mgarr United last season. However, both teams have freshened up their forward line, with new threats in the midst as the first confrontation showed with Alejandra Villegas Caly and Ines N’Goussan coming to clutch for the Greens.
On the other hand, Swieqi United brought also Sara Saliba in the line-up who despite being just eighteen years old has in the past broken Swieqi United’s hearts in the final as well. This besides the new threat of Aleksandra Yaneva.
Both sides have the threat of pace on the counter-attack, which tosses a further level to the equation for the two coaches. Swieqi United paid a dear price in one of the late goals conceded against the Greens when they threw all players forward in the hope of salvaging a point in one of last year’s late direct confrontations in their title charge. Furthermore, there’s players capable of set-pieces in the two sides, but it has not been the instrument for either side thus far.
It is difficult to predict the nature of football, especially between two sides meeting in a final for the first time. However, the statistics suggest that you may want to avoid getting away from your seat anywhere close to the fifteen to thirty-minute marks. Four goals out of seven have arrived in those moments. The last moments of normal time may be crucial as well as a further two goals arrived after the ninety in injury time, one of which was a deciding penalty.
If anything, the two teams have showed the importance of a strong team. Swieqi United’s winning goal in last year’s Super Cup was the epitome of a team goal, a football philosophy displayed also in their UEFA Women’s Champions League exploits. Mgarr United have grown a reputation of earning victories with efficient game management and a hardy defence. They are yet to conceded a goal this season in two outings.
As the two most successful last year, with direct matches tossing up plenty of drame, it has started the rumblings of what could become an intense rivalry between two clubs that have started to bear fruits on their efforts. One thing’s for sure, Sunday’s final will swing the pendulum another bit.
The two sides will take to the pitch at 18:00 at the Centenary Stadium on Sunday 7th September.
Lead Image: Michael Azzopardi
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Excellent data analysis and a reasonable explanation of how to analyse it.