Swieqi United picked up three important points as they edged Mġarr United in a five-goal thriller in the first week of MFA Women’s League games in the month of March. In the other games, Raiders Lija and Kirkop United secured a victory each after dispatching of San Ġwann and Mtarfa respectively.
Malta women’s international player Dorianne Theuma scored a brace for Swieqi as she propelled the Oranges to a 3-2 win against Mġarr. These two goals lift Theuma into third place of league’s scoring charts with nine goals.
Photo courtesy of Swieqi United
For third-place Swieqi this was a very important victory. They bounced back to winning ways after losing to Raiders Lija while they boosted their chances of a top-two finish this season. Swieqi have now moved three points away from the second place, still occupied by Mġarr.
Led by coach Billy Mock, Swieqi opened the score through American forward Alexis Espitia – her first Maltese goal – before Theuma doubled the score. Mġarr pulled one back just before half-time through Daniela Said Ebejer, sibling of Greens and Malta goalkeeper Patricia.
After the change of ends, Theuma restored Swieqi’s two-goal lead from the penalty spot before Mġarr made sure to spark the game into life in the final 15 minutes when Icelandic winger Juliana Onudottir scored her first goal since joining the Greens.
With Swieqi holding Mġarr at bay and securing the win, they are now on 22 points with 7 wins after 11 games.
MGARR Patricia Ebejer, Abigail Camilleri, Maia Debono, Keeva Camilleri, Angelique Schembri, Rodiana Borg, Daniela Said Ebejer (Juliana Dogg Onnudottir Chipa), Jasmine Vella Turner, Rebecca Bajada, Leanne Cefai, Brenda Borg.
SWIEQI Jodie Attard, Chloe Ann Ellul (Demi Magrin), Jessica Lee Dimech, Dorianne Theuma, Jade Flask (Maria Vella), Emma Xuereb (Rafanny Andreina Mendoza Abache), Mandy Debono, Shona Zammit, Michaela Cachia, Jade Schembri, Alexis Veronica Espitia.
Referee: Raiden Psaila
Raiders Lija kept their positive momentum to secure a 4-1 victory against bottom side San Ġwann.
For this game, coach Denis Guerra was forced to deploy outfield player Sabrin Blihi between the sticks as regular goalkeeper Justyne Caruana and Giulia D’Antuono were not available for selection.
Nonetheless, Raiders made sure to protect their makeshift goalkeeper by scoring four goals and allowing San Ġwann to score just once, through Yulya Carella.
Raiders grabbed the four goals through an Anna Aloisio brace, captain Monique Sultana and Neill Zarb Cousin – her first at senior level.
RAIDERS Sabrin Blihi, Rebecca Vella (Larissa Debono), Georgiana Mifsud, Sarah Caruana, Monique Sultana, Miriana Conti, Maya Lucia (Cristian Hili), Sarah Vella Barbieri, Nell Zarb Cousin (Michela Bonello Ghio), Leah Alice Ayres (Sara Bonello Ghio), Anna Aloisio (Naomi Blundell).
SAN GWANN Alayah Borg (Melissa Galea), Annabelle Rapa (Adele Calleja), Lara Mae Vella, Daniela Camilleri, Lynn Mifsud, Rhea Borg, Yulya Carella, Martina Schembri, Janice Spiteri, Nicole Saliba, Yana Scicluna.
Referee: Raymond Tabone
Kirkop United chalked up their fourth win of the season after beating Mtarfa 7-0.
Rodianne Zerafa and Aleksandra Georgieva scored two goals each, with Zerafa reaching the five-goal tally while Georgieva scoring her second and third goal of the season.
Sarah Urpani and Mirea Ellul scored a goal each, together with Yasmin Attard who scored her maiden goal in the women’s senior championship.
MTARFA Dorienne Grech, Lorna-Maria Cassar, Sarah Cassar, Brooke Zarb, Victoria Sciberras, Kelsey Ann Vella, Julianne Camilleri, Rebecca Zammit (Kaia Piccinino), Chanelle Agius (Kristine Camilleri), Estelle Borg (Corine Deguara), Marie Claire Tabone (Sarah Cassar Dymond).
KIRKOP Maria Abdilla, Ingrid Psaila, Jeanelle Falzon (Francesca Borg), Celine Galea, Yasmin Attard (Rodienne Zerafa), Sarah Urpani, Mirea Ellul, Aleksandra Georgieva (Raisa Costantino), Mariah Schembri, Yolande Attard, Marie Claire Cilia (Kathryn Ellul).
Referee: Milos Krstic