In this weekend’s final action from the first round of the Assikura Women’s League Top Four phase, leaders Birkirkara will look to keep hold of their comfortable advantage at the top.
After last week’s draw between Birkirkara and Swieqi United, the Stripes remain leaders of the championship with a four-point lead over the Owls.
Taking advantage of their 1-1 draw was Hibernians whose victory against Mġarr United allowed them to cut the gap within the top two teams.
In fact, the Paolites are now six points distant from Birkirkara while they trail Swieqi by just two points.
Hibernians and Birkirkara face each other in Saturday’s late kick-off.
Kenneth Costantino’s Hibernians are at the back of a narrow win over Mġarr United which has now put them in the driving seat to at least finish the season in third, a position higher than the 2022/2023 campaign.
Alexis Espitia scored the all-important winner, netting her 12th goal for the Paolites.
Birkirkara, on their part, rescued a point through Marta Grosso’s 14th goal of the season as the Italian continues to prove her efficiency inside this team.
Jose Borg’s Stripes are expected to bolster their forward line with the arrival of American player Hailey Russell, who will become this month’s second signature after Japanese player Nanako Kobayashi.
Meanwhile, another club who has been busy in this winter window was Swieqi United who will be acquiring two more Ghana players in Amina Ahamadu and Mariam Iddrisu who join from FC Savannah and Yoo Ladies FC respectively.
The Owls face Mġarr as they look to keep the heat on Birkirkara with yet two more direct encounters against Birkirkara to be played.
On the other hand, Mġarr United have opened this Top Four phase with two straight defeats and with a coaching change after Michael Mangion stepped down from his role.
Adding insult to injury is the injury to key player Joelma, who in her debut campaign in Malta has already scored 18 goals.
In the Bottom Four section, Valletta face San Ġwann in a clash between the top-placed side and the second-place team.
The Citizens have 24 points and are at the back of a win against Mtarfa while San Ġwann, on 13, were stunned by Lija Athletic.
Lija and Mtarfa meet in the other game with the latter to be coached by Brandon Spiteri, with Simon Spiteri stepping down from the coaching role.