Valletta Grab First Win Of The Season With Victory Over Mtarfa

Valletta secured a confident victory by 5-0 over Mtarfa. The Citizens’ Kim Fava opened the scoreline registering her first goal with the club and in the Assikura Women’s League, but her match ended on sombre terms as she was carried out from the pitch with injury. The team extended the win with goals by Ylenia Grech, Anna Aloisio, Eunice Micallef and Monique Sultana.

Team Selections

Valletta’s Gabriella Grima made her first successive appearance in goal. Sabrin Blihi remained at the heart of the defence, but flanked by a changed duo in Sara Bonello Ghio and Kady Zammit. Monique Sultana started in front of the defence, with Ylenia Grech and Marcelle de Oliveira Julio trusted further forward. Sarah Fenech and Kim Fava started on the flanks, while captain Anna Aloisio partnered Laura Muscat in attack.

Mtarfa’s captain Dorienne Grech remained in goal. Gaetano Papaleo stuck with a back-five consisting of Rebecca Zammit, Paula Ciappara and Angele Fenech at its core, while Maria Abdilla and Claire Versteegh operated as wing-backs. Kerrie Ciappara protected the defence, while Nicole Espinel Bautista and Estelle Borg occupied the midfield. Danna Fuentes Alvarez supported Clara Linnea Westerlund in attack.

How It Unfolded

It was Mtarfa who had the first opportunity in the open throes, catching Valletta still getting up to speed. Clara Linea Westerlund pressed on a throw-in, winning possession high up the pitch. However, her attempt to rope in Danna Fuentes Alvarez was overhit, giving time for Valletta to close the shot. Kerrie Ciappara attempted the rebound but Valletta were ready to block once more.

The Citizens responded with a chance of their own, opting for a direct route to release Laura Muscat behind the defence. She tried to dink it over Dorienne Grech, but the experienced goalkeeper parried for a corner. Rebecca Zammit cleared the initial delivery for another corner, but Marcelle de Oliveira Julio could not fire the shot on target.

Still, Valletta nudged themselves into the lead in the 6th minute, through Kim Fava who earned her first goal in Valletta colours and first ever in the senior’s league. The number nineteen latched onto a ball onto the right wing, before dinking it into the net over Dorienne Grech who was coming out to meet her.

Mtarfa were still keen on applying a high-press, despite going a goal down. Clara Linnea Westerlund was proving to be a positive outlet for the side, pressuring mistakes from the Valletta defence and managing a couple of shots. However, Gabriella Grima was alert to the danger and keen to come off her line to clear.

The Mtarfa number nine was also well found by Nicole Espinel Bautista who continued to show her work ethic to win possession high up the pitch. However, the number nine’s shot was parried well by Gabriella Grima.

Despite this, Valletta subdued the resurgence with a stunner from distance, courtesy of Ylenia Grech. She doubled the scoreline in the 19th minute.

The Citizens continued to push on in search for more, but Marcelle de Oliveira Julio was off-target with the finish from inside the box, with the ball initially helped on by Anna Aloisio.

The Valletta skipper also had a few opportunities of her own, coming closest in the 40th minute, but Rebecca Zammit managed to clear the ball from the goalmouth.

Mtarfa launched a promising counter-attack, through Danna Fuentes Alvarez, who played the combination with Kerrie Ciappara. However, Gabriella Grima was off her line once more to read the danger.

Half-Time Score: Valletta 2 – 0 Mtarfa

Mtarfa’s Gaetano Papaleo made one change at the break, bringing on Katya Camilleri in replacement of Angele Fenech. Valletta looked to get themselves off to the best possible start, finding the back of the net just two minutes into the half from a free-kick. However, the goal was cancelled by the offside flag to their dismay.

The Citizens kept up the attacks, earning three successive corners and managing to find the third goal on the third try, in the 53rd minute. Anna Aloisio applied the touch to Ylenia Grech’s delivery, sneaking the finish into the far right corner of the net.

Jean Lopes looked to refresh the team as the hour mark approached, making four changes at one go. The defence was completely changed, with Eunice Micallef, Lisa Vella and Hannah Grima taking to the pitch instead of Sara Bonello Ghio, Sabrin Blihi and Kady Zammit. Ylenia Grech also gave way to Suzanne Farrugia Sacco.

Despite being on the pitch for just a few minutes, a tussle grew between Clara Linnea Westerlund and Lisa Vella, which landed the Mtarfa attacker in the book in the 73rd minute. Mtarfa’s Gaetano Papaleo also freshened up his side, bringing on Jade Azzopardi in replacement of Kerrie Ciappara.

On their part Valletta continued driving forward, earning themselves several more free-kicks, with the Blues keen on countering. Paula Ciappara drove forward with good pace on one instance, but her attempt to find the forwards was well-read by the Valletta defence.

Things took a sombre turn for Valletta as Kim Fava had to be carried off the pitch with injury, unable to continue. However, the team continued driving forward to extend the lead in the latter portions of the match. Eunice Micallef delivered the rebound on a free-kick that was initially saved by Dorienne Grech, to register the fourth for Valletta in the 89th minute. Monique Sultana made it five in injury time, volleying a finish from a corner delivery into the bottom left corner of the net.

Final Score: Valletta 5 – 0 Mtarfa

Next Matches

Valletta secure themselves the first three points of the season, to take their tally to four points. They will use the confidence to take the challenge to Birkirkara in their upcoming match, with the Stripes looking forward to bounce back from their defeat to Hibernians. The match will be played on Thursday (3rd October) at 20:15.

Meanwhile, Mtarfa will eye the encounter against Swieqi United, to be played on Saturday (5th October) at Mgarr Ground, starting at 17:30. Swieqi United will go into it on the back of a strong victory over Lija Athletic.

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