Birkirkara and Mġarr United preserved their joint-leadership ahead of next week’s direct clash after beating Raiders Lija and Mtarfa respectively, in this week’s fixtures of Matchday 10 of the MFA Women’s League.
Meanwhile, Brazilian forward Fernanda Peinado managed to open her Swieqi United account on her debut after netting a brace in the Oranges’ 5-0 victory over San Ġwann.
Leaders Birkirkara were offered a stern test by Raiders Lija and despite going ahead inside the first two minutes through Alishia Sultana, they could not find a double before Miriana Conti levelled terms for Raiders on the 53rd minute.
Nonetheless, Birkirkara managed to secure the win thanks to a Veronique Mifsud penalty and a Michela Bonello Ghio own goal to stay top.
The Stripes had another new entry to their team in Spanish goalkeeper Isabel Sanchez Bacaicoa, who was named among the substitutes.
Following this win, Birkirkara are now one game shy from going 60 league games unbeaten.
RAIDERS Justyne Caruana, Rebecca Vella, Georgiana Mifsud, Sarah Caruana, Monique Sultana, Miriana Conti (Clara Padilla Chozas), Maya Lucia, Sarah Vella Barberi, Michela Bonello Ghio, Anna Aloisio.
B’KARA Janice Xuereb, Gabriella Zahra, Ann-Marie Said, Kimberley Parnis, Tracy Teuma, Alishia Sultana, Veronique Mifsud (Mariah Sciberras), Yasmeen Marie Baajda, Michela Felice (Charlene Zammit), Mariah Cardona (Ruth Steer-Chetham), Sara Saliba (Izabella Camilleri).
Referee: Mehmet Oral
Meanwhile, Mġarr broke little sweat to defeat Mtarfa 9-0 with Brenda Borg and Francesca Chircop grabbing four goals each.
Chircop remains at the top of the league’s scoring charts with 13 goals, now followed by Borg on 9 goals. Birkirkara’s Sultana is third with 8 goals. Angelique Schembri scored Mġarr’s other goal, finding the net for the second straight week.
In this game, Mġarr United’s coach Michael Mangion handed a debut to new arrival Ecuadorian defender Nicole Espinel Bautista.
In addition, goalkeeper Patricia Ebejer has managed to record another clean sheet as she has now extended her tally without conceding a single goal to 900 minutes.
MGARR Patricia Ebejer, Mirayah Aquilina (Leslye Nicole Espinel Bautista), Abigail Camilleri (Caoimhe Camilleri), Maia Melanie Debono, Francesca Chircop, Angelique Schembri (Nicole Grixti), Daniela Said Ebejer, Jasmine Vella Turner, Leanne Cefai, Rebecca Bajada (Rodiana Borg), Brenda Borg.
MTARFA Dorienne Grech, Lorna Maria Cassar, Sarah Cassar, Brooke Zarb (Kristine Camilleri), Victoria Sciberras, Julianne Camilleri (Kirsty Paris), Shania Marie Spiteri, Rebecca Zamit, Estelle Borg (Kaia Piccinino), Darya Attard, Marie Claire Tabone (Kelsey Ann Vella).
Referee: Elaine Bonnici
Peinado’s debut goals follow last week’s hat-trick netted by Birkirkara’s Patricia Lamanna, the Canadian forward who signed with the Stripes for the rest of the season.
Her debut brace for Swieqi propelled them to their second straight win of the year as they moved third on 16 points and with a game in hand. Shona Zammit, Dorianne Theuma and Kelly Agius Pace were the other scorers for Swieqi.
SWIEQI Mandy Caruana, Andy Zammit Mizzi (Simone Buttigieg), Chloe Ann Ellul, Jessica Lee Dimech, Dorianne Theuma, Fernanda dos Santos Peinado (Kelly Agius Pace), Shona Zammit, Michaela Cachia (Mandy Debono), Jade Schembri, Demi Magrin (Amy Busuttil), Chantelle Grech (Tammy Falzon).
SAN GWANN Alayah Borg (Melissa Galea), Shania Borg (Nicole Saliba), Annabelle Rapa, Lara Mae Vella, Daniela Camilleri (Kelsey Borg), Lynn Mifsud, Rhea Borg, Yulya Carella, Martina Schembri, Sarah Cioffi, Janice Spiteri (Yana Scicluna).
Referee: Nikola Djordjevic