First-half goals help Birkirkara women beat Swieqi United

Two-first half goals by Christabel Oduro and Alishia Sultana propelled Birkirkara to a valuable 2-1 win over Swieqi United in the BOV Women’s League.

It was a tight contest where the stakes were high as Swieqi came to this match as league leaders with a five-point lead over the champions, even though Birkirkara have a three-game deficit which they will start to recuperate as from Saturday when they take on Mosta. 

At the end, Birkirkara’s experience prevailed as they managed to keep Swieqi’s threats at bay. Nonetheless, it was a fine performance by the Oranges who are gradually continuing to improve and their performance against the Maltese champions sheds light on their progress. 

For this game, Birkirkara coach Melania Bajada deployed the strongest line-up possible with Malta defenders Stephania Farrugia and Ann-Marie Said at the back whereas Raina Giusti was making her 200th appearance in the domestic league. 

Malta international Sultana was in an inspiring form as she assisted Canadian forward Oduro on the first goal before scoring Birkirkara’s second, to make it four goals in this 2020/2021 campaign so far. 

After the break, Swieqi pulled one back early through midfielder Kayleigh Chetcuti as they tried to inch their way up the field in search of an equaliser. As the half wore on, both sides did not make the most of their goal-scoring chances with Birkirkara maintaining their one-goal lead to take victory home.

Mġarr United are now the sole leaders of the league after their 9-1 rout of Mosta. 

Abigail Camilleri grabbed a hat-trick for the Greens with league top scorer Francesca Chircop scoring one herself to reach the nine-goal tally. 

Skipper Brenda Borg made it six goals in the league as she struck one herself against the Blues with the other goals coming from Yolande Attard, Rodiana Borg, Rebecca Bajada and Nicole Cutajar. Mosta’s scorer was Leah Ayres.

Elsewhere, Kirkop United survived a scare to defeat bottom side Mtarfa in an eight-goal thriller which the Reds won 5-3.

Kirkop’s hero was Liis Pello as the Estonian midfielder scored a hat-trick with Rosalie Borg and Rodianne Zerafa adding the other two goals. For Zerafa, this was her eighth goal of the season as she remains one goal shy of league top-scorer Chircop.

Meanwhile, Mtarfa’s goal scorers were Lorna Cassar, who also found the net against Kirkop in the first round tie, Lised Romero and Darya Attard. 

STANDINGS
Mġarr United (7 games) 16; Swieqi United (7) 13; Birkirkara (4), Kirkop United (6) 12; Raiders Għargħur (6) 6; Mosta (6) 3; Mtarfa (6) 0. 

PLAYING SATURDAY
Centenary Stadium – 10am
Birkirkara vs Mosta