Birkirkara’s debutant Lamanna nets hat-trick in Kirkop win, Mġarr defeat Raiders

Birkirkara and Mġarr United launched their 2022 commitments with two victories which keep them joint-leaders in the MFA Women’s League.

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Propelled by a Patrizia Lamanna hat-trick on her debut, Birkirkara cruised to victory after registering a 6-1 win against Kirkop United.

On the other hand, Mġarr scored a goal in each half through Francesca Chircop and Angelique Schembri to secure a 2-0 win over Raiders Lija.

The Stripes have now scored 40 goals in 8 games whereas Mġarr extended their clean sheet run to 8 consecutive games this season. Birkirkara are also two games away from going 60 league games unbeaten.

Birkirkara coach Melania Bajada deployed Canadian forward Lamanna from the start who left an immediate impact when she struck home the first goal inside three minutes. She doubled the lead on the 10th minute before completing her treble on the hour mark.

Veronique Mifsud, Mariah Cardona and Ann-Marie Said scored the other goals for Birkirkara.

On the other hand, Kirkop’s goal came through forward Rodianne Zerafa who registered her second goal of the season.

Mġarr’s forward Chircop cemented her lead in the league’s scoring charts after adding her 9th goal of the campaign propelling her team to victory.

The Greens made sure of the win in the second half through youth player Schembri who netted from close-range, for her maiden goal of the season.

This clean sheet also means that goalkeeper Patricia Ebejer has now gone 720 minutes without conceding a goal.

Meanwhile, Spanish player Clara Padilla Chozas made her Raiders Lija debut after joining the club during this winter transfer window.

In the other game of the week, Swieqi United broke little sweat to defeat Mtarfa 7-0.

Forward Kelly Agius Pace chalked up a brace as she has now scored six goals this season. Demi Magrin, Amy Busuttil Chloe Ann Ellul, Jade Schembri and Shona Zammit grabbed the other goals.

Youth player Kim Fava made her Swieqi debut during this game as the Oranges join Raiders in third on 13 points, with a game in hand.

STANDINGS (after MD9):

BIRKIRKARA – 22 POINTS
MĠARR UNITED – 22
SWIEQI UNITED – 13
RAIDERS LIJA – 13
KIRKOP UNITED – 6
SAN ĠWANN – 1
MTARFA – 1