After a short break during the recess period, the women’s league will resume with leaders Birkirkara looking to cement their lead at the top as they face Raiders Għargħur, at the Dingli Ground tonight (20.45).
For Birkirkara, the winter break was shorter than expected having had to recuperate a handful of matches which has been rescheduled due to the coronavirus pandemic. In fact, the Stripes claimed two wins in their games against Mtarfa (12-0) and Kirkop United (2-1) which were played on December 19 and December 22 respectively.
These wins enabled Melania Bajada’s side to regain top spot with 21 points after seven outings, having scored 40 goals and conceded just twice. Forwards Raina Giusti and Christabel Oduro have contributed to Birkirkara’s tally with 14 goals in total, with Alishia Sultana and Veronique Mifsud grabbing five each to share 10 goals between them.
Skipper Stephania Farrugia, Tracy Teuma and Gabriella Zahra found the net three times this season with the other goals scored by Valentina Rapa (2), Izabella Camilleri and Ileana Farrugia who form the youth core of the Stripes.
Raiders, on their part, have six points to show after seven outings even though their tally does not make justice to majority of their displays shown so far. Led by Swiss coach Denis Guerra, Raiders defeated Mosta and Mtarfa to chalk up their two victories this season so far, with midfielder Leanne Micallef being the club’s top scorer with two goals.
Among their ranks, Guerra can bank on newly-arrived goalkeeper Giulia D’Antuono and Maya Lucia, fresh from a maiden call-up with the senior women’s national team.
Title challengers Mġarr United and Swieqi United will both be in action as well, as they will face Mtarfa and Mosta respectively.
The Greens will take on Mtarfa at their own ground, tonight (kick-off: 20.30). After eight games, Patrick Curmi and Bryan Falzon’s side are on 19 points, three distant from Birkirkara but having played an extra game. They are at the back of a 4-0 victory over Raiders with striker Francesca Chircop netting a hat-trick. The former Hibernians forward leads the championship top scorer list with 12 goals so far, two ahead of Kirkop United’s Rodianne Zerafa.
After 8 games, Mtarfa are still looking for their first points of the season but their recent performance against Kirkop (5-3 defeat) will surely inject more boost into the team led by former Birkirkara coach Shawn Meilak.
Meanwhile, Swieqi will be wrapping up this matchday with a clash against Mosta tomorrow at the Dingli Ground (kick-off: 20.45).
The Oranges arrive from a 4-2 win over Kirkop as they sit third on 16 points with eight games played so far. Youth forward Demi Magrin remains their top scorer with six goals followed by Malta international Emma Xuereb, who turned 29 today.
On the other hand, Mosta have picked up six points so far with eight games played with one of their latest match being a 3-0 win over bottom side Mosta. Youth players Yulya Carella, Shania Borg and Leah Alice Ayres grabbed the winning goals, with both Borg and Ayres being the club’s top scorer with two goals each alongside Kylie Pantalleresco.
PROGRAMME
TODAY
MĠARR GROUND – 20.30
Mtarfa vs Mġarr United
DINGLI GROUND – 20.45
Raiders Għargħur vs Birkirkara
TOMORROW – 20.45
DINGLI GROUND
Mosta vs Swieqi United
Bye: Kirkop United.
STANDINGS:
Birkirkara (7 games) 21 points; Mġarr United (8) 19; Swieqi United (8) 16; Kirkop United (8) 12; Raiders Għargħur (7) 6; Mosta (8) 6; Mtarfa (8) 0.
