Valletta March On With Victory Over Mtarfa

Valletta maintained their winning streak with an 8-0 victory over Mtarfa. Sarah Vella Barberi opened the scoring. Anna Aloisio took the match ball, while Ylenia Grech, Miriana Conti, Laura Muscat and Georgiana Mifsud completed the scoring spree.

Team Selections

Andressa de Souza Ramos retained her place in goal for Valletta. There were changes at the back as Sabrin Blihi was partnered by Eduarda Martins Souza. Michela Bonello Ghio and Ylenia Grech started as offensive wingers, while Francesca Bartolo, Monique Sultana and Miriana Conti occupied the midfield. Captain Anna Aloisio was flanked by Sarah Vella Barberi and Laura Muscat in attack.

Mtarfa’s captain Dorienne Grech returned in goal, behind a four-player defence consisting of Corinne Deguara, Rebecca Zammit, Nicole Mifsud and Paula Ciappara. Maia Cutajar started in midfield together with Kerrie Ciappara and Katya Camilleri. Maria Abdilla returned to the field in attack, flanked by Jade Azzopardi and Shania Spiteri.

Valletta Take Hold Of The Match

The group leaders took charge of possession early on, attempting to finesse an opening to break the deadlock. They developed the first real attempt from a corner which Monique Sultana headed wide from Michela Bonello Ghio’s delivery. Anna Aloisio tested Dorienne Grech from distance shortly after but Mtarfa’s goalkeeper parried for a corner.

Sarah Vella Barberi was next to fizz a curler aimed for the far corner of the goal from the left wing, following a short corner. However, she was just off the mark. Laura Muscat and Francesca Bartolo were next to try their luck, but they too could not find the back of the net.

The team continued dominating play and it was Sarah Vella Barberi who continued her goalscoring form from the Assikura Women’s Youth League to break the deadlock. The number eleven opened the space on the left side of the box before firing a low shot to beat Dorienne Grech in the 13th minute.

Despite going a goal down, Mtarfa’s Corine Deguara instigated quick transition after intercepting an attempted pass, which she immediately sent down the vertical channel for Maria Abdilla to chase. The striker took it away from the rushing goalkeeper but was wide taken wide with the touch, with the chance ebbing away.

Valletta piled forward in search for more and doubled the lead in the 17th minute. Anna Aloisio did extremely well to keep alive a ball heading toward the corner flag. The skipper was supported by Monique Sultana who delivered the cross. Sarah Vella Barberi struck the post, but the Reds’ skipper got the goal from the rebound.

Ylenia Grech fired home the third in the 23rd minute with a spectacular finish from the left wing to find the far corner of the net. It was one way traffic as Miriana Conti made it four in the 27th minute. Valletta’s Sarah Vella Barberi was denied by the woodwork for a second time close to the end of the half.

Mtarfa’s coaches attempted to change things up by swapping the wingers which worked well as Shania Spiteri released Maria Abdilla on the left wing. Abdilla returned to Spiteri who opted for a long-range effort, though perhaps with hindsight may have been better off attempting the cross for the four teammates in support.

Half-Time Score: Valletta 4 – 0 Mtarfa

Valletta Double Score

The team in red struggled to convert from a host of corner kicks, before Mtarfa’s Nicole Mifsud made a surge up the field to get the Blues going forward. However, she overhit the pass to release Maria Abdilla. Still the charge invigorated the team as Shania Spiteri was next to release the striker, whose shot was well blocked by Andressa de Souza Ramos who came out to meet her.

Valletta finally managed to make a corner kick pay off in the 55th minute. Michela Bonello Ghio delivered into the box, with Anna Aloisio firing into the roof of the net. Sabrin Blihi was next to fire from distance but saw her effort dip just behind the goal.

Mtarfa’s coaching staff freshened things up by bringing on Angele Fenech in replacement of Jade Azzopardi. Fenech occupied the right-back position, pushing Paula Ciappara up the wing.

Valletta’s Laura Muscat made it six from the penalty spot, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way. The goal instigated five changes at one go from Jean Lopes. Sara Bonello Ghio and Lisa Vella became the two centre-backs as Sabrin Blihi gave way while Eduarda Martins Souza moved into midfield. Francesca Bartolo, Ylenia Grech, Michela Bonello Ghio and Sarah Vella Barberi all gave way. Kate Paula Muscat and Suzanne Farrugia Sacco occupied the wings, while Georgiana Mifsud slotted in midfield.

Farrugia Sacco immediately got into the action doing well to open space for a cut-back to Anna Aloisio from the byline, but the striker was denied. Instead it was Georgiana Mifsud who rolled up in midfield and nestled the seventh into the bottom left corner in the 68th minute.

Despite the scoreline growing further, Mtarfa retained their positive attempts to try to get on the scoresheet. However, Lisa Vella and Sara Bonello Ghio used their fresh legs well against the sole threat of Maria Abdilla.

Instead Valletta’s Anna Aloisio completed the hat-trick by sticking out a knee to direct the ball into the top left side of the goal from Laura Muscat’s whipped delivery.

Things took a turn for the worse for Mtarfa as Dorienne Grech was unable to shake off a knock taken earlier, with Kendra Micallef taking her place in goal for the final quarter of an hour. Valletta continued their search for more but Mtarfa were still pushing for their own up front.

Nicole Mifsud’s surge was another crucial instigator five minutes from time resulting in a cross from Paula Ciappara which Shania Spiteri forced a corner from. The Blues worked it short to Nicole Mifsud, but Valletta closed down the space for the shot.

Mtarfa’s Shania Spiteri made another burst up the wing in the late stages, before cutting inside and striking the shot. However, Andressa de Souza Ramos had the near post covered to deny the Blues a goal back.

Final Score: Valletta 8 – 0 Mtarfa

Standings & Next Matches

Valletta maintain their winning streak with aplomb to take their tally to 33 points at the top of the group. They will return to action following the international break, against San Gwann on Friday 1st March at the Victor Tedesco Stadium (20:30). Mtarfa will face Lija Athletic on Thursday 29th February at the Centenary Stadium (20:15).

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