by Valletta secured three points with a solid 4 – 0 victory against Mtarfa. Ylenia Grech got the side going early on, before Rodianne Zerafa delivered two goals on either side of half-time to give the team a confident lead with her first goals in the shirt. Substitute Sara Bonello Ghio completed the scoring with a maiden goal in the seniors’ league.
Team Selection
Mtarfa’s captain Dorienne Grech started in goal, protected by a defence consisting of Claire Versteegh, Paula Ciappara, Angele Fenech, Rebecca Zammit and Maria Abdilla. Kerrie Ciappara protected the defence, while Shania Spiteri, Estelle Borg and Sabrina Bertona started further forward. Eliza Csik led the attack.
Meanwhile, Gabriella Grima continued her stay in goal for Valletta, protected by a changed defence. Lisa Vella partnered Eunice Micallef in the centre, with Megan La Rosa and Kady Zammit starting on the flanks. Sarah Fenech and Suzanne Farrugia Sacco operated on the wings further forward, while Monique Sultana captained the side in the centre of the pitch alongside Ylenia Grech. Laura Muscat started in attack with Rodianne Zerafa.
How It Unfolded
Valletta got themselves on the front foot early on, but had to wait to find their opener. Ylenia Grech broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute, winning the ball in the box before firing from a tight angle, finding the back of the net despite Mtarfa attempting to block it.
The Blues were forced into a substitution shortly after, with Oumayma Jelili taking to the pitch instead of Sabrina Bertona in the 25th minute. However, the team showed a boost in attack, with Eliza Csik leading a surge. She was thwarted by Lisa Vella who recovered the ball, despite the Blues appealing the contact in the box.
Valletta continued searching for more, with Ylenia Grech winning the ball in midfield and pushing the side forward. Sarah Fenech released Rodianne Zerafa, but Dorienne Grech came to meet her, with the goalkeeper winning that battle.
However, Rodianne Zerafa found the second for the team, and her first goal in the Valletta shirt in the 29th minute. The experienced striker was well found with a pass from Suzanne Farrugia Sacco who cut inside before picking out the forward. Rodianne Zerafa swung a left foot on the turn to find the near corner of the goal with a low finish.
Ylenia Grech showed good feet to skip past three players as the final ten minutes approached, but was unable to find the target with the finish. While Valletta enjoyed the majority of attacking momentum, the side was unable to add to their tally in the half.
Meanwhile, Mtarfa attempted to make headway with a forward pass from Shania Spiteri who linked with Oumayma Jelili. However, Megan La Rosa shut the door. The Blues also had a chance to shoot on goal from a free-kick, but Claire Versteegh’s attempt to find the top right corner lacked the necessary dip to work Gabriella Grima.
Half-Time Score: Mtarfa 0 – 2 Valletta
The two teams came out onto the pitch but Mtarfa were forced into another change shortly into it as Angele Fenech was forced off. Saleisha Ghigo took to the pitch in her stead, taking the forward role, with Kerrie Ciappara dropping in defence.
The youngster was quickly involved, with Ghigo carrying the ball forward on a break, but Lisa Vella shuffled across to dispossess.
Valletta pushed to increase their tally, with a good break on the right wing. However, Sarah Fenech’s attempt to find the far left corner was pulled wide. Still the winger was involved in creating the third goal. She cut back a pass to Rodianne Zerafa who dropped to the edge of the penalty box. The forward cut inside before taking aim to find the far left corner of the net for the third goal in the 56th minute.
Mtarfa resurged with another attempt to go forward. However, a delivery from Eliza Csik into the box was just ahead of the forward runners. Estelle Borg and Saleisha Ghigo were both involved shortly after in releasing the Hungarian on the wing, but she was closed down by the dogged Valletta defence who were keen on their clean sheet. Eliza Csik also attempted to release Saleisha Ghigo shortly after, but Gabriella Grima was off her line to snuff out the opportunity for the strike.
Valletta’s Jean Lopes made a double switch in the 65th minute, bringing on Sara Bonello Ghio in replacement of Sarah Fenech on the wing, while Hannah Grima replaced Suzanne Farrugia Sacco. Grima slotted in attack, while Rodianne Zerafa shifted wide. Mtarfa’s Paula Ciappara also made way for Katya Camilleri in the 73rd minute.
Valletta got their final goal of the match shortly after. Megan La Rosa hung a dangerous ball into the box, with Ylenia Grech meeting it ahead of the goalkeeper. She kept it alive to find Hannah Grima who squared it close to the six-yard box. Sara Bonello Ghio arrived at the far post to strike a boot to find the far top corner for the fourth goal for Valletta, and her first goal in the senior’s league.
The team in red and white continued pushing forward for more, twice releasing Laura Muscat, but finding Dorienne Grech ready to suffocate the chance. Mtarfa had a final opportunity to get themselves on the scoresheet late on, with Eliza Csik finding Shania Spiteri who released Estelle Borg into the box. However, her cross was intercepted by Gabriella Grima.
Final Score: Mtarfa 0 – 4 Valletta
Standings & Next Matches
Valletta take their tally to 11 points to lift themselves into sixth place. The Citizens will end their commitments for the calendar year against the defending champions Birkirkara on Saturday 21st at Dingli Ground (KO 14:00). Mtarfa will follow against Swieqi United, with that match starting at 16:30.
However, before then, Birkirkara will face Mgarr United this evening at the Centenary Stadium, with the match starting at 18:30. The two are separated by just one point in third and fourth place, with the target of closing the gap to Hibernians. The match will be followed by San Gwann against Swieqi United at 20:45 at the same stadium, where Swieqi United could rise to first place with a victory.
Lead Image: Elise Bajada
Make sure to never miss an Assikura Women’s League match by syncing your calendar here.
Stay up to date by following The Sporting Fan on social media: Instagram ~ Facebook ~ X
