Hibs move top after late Mġarr penalty sinks Swieqi in Assikura Women’s League

A late Valeria Villegas penalty handed Mġarr United a crucial win over Swieqi United in the women’s league.

Mġarr had Argentine forward Luz Hernandez making her maiden appearance for the club, having joined during this winter transfer window.

Hibernians women’s team have reclaimed first place in the championship after being awarded a 3-0 win following Lija Athletic’s walk-over.

Viverly Nanez marked her Birkirkara debut with a goal in their 4-0 win over Mtarfa.

The Stripes scored all four goals in the first-half, making sure of the victory before Mtarfa opted against resuming the second-half due to a lack of substitutes after their goalkeeper picked up a serious injury.

Nanez joins after a spell in the Turkish top-flight at Antalyaspor.

Gabriella Zahra and a brace from Charlene Zammit were Birkirkara’s other goals.

This win puts the Stripes into second place on 32 points, trailing leaders Hibernians by one.

In Saturday’s other match, San Ġwann eased past Valletta 4-0 to cement their fifth spot, now on 16 points and four above the Citizens.

Oumaima Mhalli scored a hat-trick while league’s top scorer Hailey Russell added another goal to her tally.

Valletta handed a debut to four winter signings in Leona Carabott and French trio – Oriane Le Gouez, Lilou Lucas and and Lucie Lucas.

MĠARR UNITED 1-0 SWIEQI UNITED
V. Villegas 90+2 pen.

MĠARR UNITED
G. D’Antuono; A. Camilleri, M. Debono, Y. Carella (64 V. Mifsud), K. Sciberras (64 R. Bajada), Y. Mendez, L. Hernandez, A. Villegas, A. Grech.
Coach: Ryan Vella.

SWIEQI UNITED
P. Araujo; E. Micallef, S. Urpani, E. Xuereb, S. Abdulai, K, Abdulai, Rafanny, J. Schembri, T. Falzon, M. Cachia.
Coach: Dorianne Theuma.

Referee: Adam Brighton

MTARFA 0-4 BIRKIRKARA (Mtarfa forfeited second half)
Viverly Nanez 13; Gabriella Zahra 24; Charlene Zammit 37, 45

MTARFA
D. Grech; C. Versteegh, E. Csik, E. Gatt, K. Ciappara, K. Camilleri, M. Abdilla, L. Tobon, S. Spiteri, P. Ciappara, R. Zammit.
Coach: Simon Spiteri.

BIRKIRKARA
M. Cachia; G. Zahra, L. Cabral, I. Camilleri, V. Rapa, A. Vassallo, C. Zammit, M. Gauci, V. Nanez, M. Cardona, E. Bispo.
Coach: Vince Galea.

Referee: Steve Baldacchino

VALLETTA 0-4 SAN ĠWANN
Oumaima Mhalli 24, 28, 43; Hailey Russell 32

VALLETTA
G. Grima; M. La Rosa, A. Aloisio, M. Sultana (53 L. Lucas), R. Zerafa, S. Farrugia Sacco, Y. Grech, A. Mifsud (53 L. Lucas), E. Micallef (61 L. Carabott), S. Blihi, S. Fenech (40 O. Le Gouez).
Coach: Jean Lopes.

SAN ĠWANN
J. Caruana; A. Rapa, N. Kobayashi, M. Schembri (63 N. Attard), H. Russell (77 S. Gheiti), T. Chaimaa, O. Mhalli (71 K. Paris), K. Vella, J. Falzon.
Coach: Julian Camilleri.

Referee: Kyle Cilia