Hibernians defeated champions Birkirkara 3-2 in the top-of-the-table clash from the Assikura Women’s League. The Paolites are now sitting in first position with 13 points, while Birkirkara follow with 10.

Hibernians forged ahead through Alexis Espitia after just nine minutes.

They doubled the lead when Jessica Dimech beat Maya Cachia from close-range, just past the 20-minute mark.

Birkirkara, though, pulled one back through Luana Cabral but Hibs restored their two-goal lead before half-time through a Cachia own goal.

Late in the game, the Stripes managed to find the back of the net again through Erica Bispo but Hibernians managed to keep Birkirkara at bay and clinch the narrow win.

Mġarr United have secured their second win of the season after beating San Ġwann in Matchday 5’s opening fixture.

The Greens now move third with nine points, within touching distance from joint leaders Birkirkara and Hibernians who will rub shoulders this Friday.

San Ġwann, on their part, remain on six points after losing their third game of the season.

American forward Hailey Russell netted her sixth goal of the season, putting San Ġwann ahead after 18 minutes.

Mġarr, though, cancelled the one-goal deficit and scored four goals through a brace each by Yulya Carella, formerly of San Ġwann and Ann-Marie Said.

Swieqi United earned their second consecutive win, their third of the season after beating Lija Athletic.

The Owls scored twice in the first half through Sarah Urpani, one of their summer signings, and Karima Abdulai.

Abdulai added another just after the restart before Maria Vella and Rafanny wrapped up the win.

Lija remain on six points.

Valletta registered their first win of the season after hitting Mtarfa for five.

The Citizens scored twice in the first 45 minutes through Kim Fava and Ylenia Grech.

After the break, Anna Aloisio scored the game’s third goal before two late goals through Eunice Micallef and Monique Sultana to seal the win.

BIRKIRKARA 2-3 HIBERNIANS
Luana Cabral 33, Erica Bispo 84 (B); Alexis Espitia 9, Jessica Dimech 23, Maya Cachia 41 og.

BIRKIRKARA
M. Cachia; G. Zahra (80 A. Vassallo), M. Fenech (62 M. Cardona), Y. Hazekawa, F. Chircop (62 R. Giusti), Luana Cabral, A. Cassar, V. Rapa, C. Zammit, C. Schechinger, E. Bispo.
Coach: Vince Galea.

HIBERNIANS
E. Harrington; N. Geren, C. Ellul (80 Y. Attard), J. Dimech, A. Busuttil, K. Chetcuti, M. Borg (86 L. Ayres), N. Sciberras, I. Farrugia, A. Espitia (90 A. Galea), Joelma (90 R. Zerafa).
Coach: Kenneth Costantino.

Referee: Jo-Anna Vassallo.

SAN ĠWANN 1-4 MĠARR UNITED
Hailey Russell 18 (S); Yulya Carella 25, 62; Ann-Marie Said 33, 77 (M).

SAN ĠWANN
J. Caruana; A. Rapa, N. Kobayashi, T. Chaimaa, H. Russell, R. Borg (83 Y. Attard), O. Mhalli (43 N. Attard), N. Blundell, F. Al Girbi, K. Vella (46 J. Falzon), T. Muscat (86 S. Gheiti).
Coach: Julian Camilleri.

MĠARR UNITED
G. D’Antuono (74 P. Ebejer); A. Said, M. Debono, V. Mifsud (81 R. Borg), Y. Carella (74 A. Grech), L. Cefai, V. Villegas, Y. Mendez (81 E. Xuereb), R. Bajada, A. Villegas (85 K. Sciberras), B. Borg.
Coach: Ryan Vella.

Referee: Kyle Cilia.

LIJA ATHLETIC 0-5 SWIEQI UNITED
Sarah Urpani 23; Karima Abdulai 44, 47; Maria Vella 69; Rafanny 81.

LIJA ATHLETIC

C. Pisani; L. Micallef (65 Y. Zammit), S. Caruana, S. Bugeja, N. Zarb Cousin, R. Mifsud, M. Stagno, K. Grech, V. Honorio, S. Bouzid, E. Marmara (61 D. Camilleri).

Coach: Jethron Azzopardi.

SWIEQI UNITED

P. Araujo; E. Micallef, S. Urpani (70 S. Mallia), J. Flask, E. Xuereb, S. Abdulai, K. Abdulai (58 M. Vella), S. Zammit, Rafanny, J. Schembri, M. Cachia (58 M. Conti).

Coach: Dorianne Theuma.

Referee: Stefania Bonnici.

VALLETTA 5-0 MTARFA
Kim Fava 6, Ylenia Grech 18, Anna Aloisio 53, Eunice Micallef 87, Monique Sultana 89.

VALLETTA
G. Grima; A. Aloisio, K. Zammit (55 S. Farrugia Sacco), Marcelle Oliveira, M. Sultana, L. Muscat, Y. Grech (55 E. Micallef), S. Blihi (55 H. Grima), S. Fenech, K. Fava, S. Bonello Ghio (55 L. Vella).
Coach: Jean Lopes.

MTARFA
D. Grech; C. Versteegh, A. Fenech (46 K. Camilleri), N. Espinel, C. Westerlund, D. Alvarez, E. Borg, K. Ciappara (75 J. Azzopardi), M. Abdilla, P. Ciappara, R. Zammit.
Coach: Gaetano Papaleo.

Referee: Christian Lia.