Birkirkara launched their final round commitments with a comfortable win over bottom side San Ġwann to maintain their six-point lead at the top of the MFA Women’s League. Second-place Mġarr United kept their title hopes alive with a victory over Kirkop United.
The Stripes scored eight goals without a reply in a victory that cements their leadership in this league. With five games left for the end of the season, the Stripes are in the driving seat to conquer their tenth championship. Melania Bajada’s side have now stretched their league unbeaten run to 63 games – six away from matching the domestic record.
Canadian forward Patricia Lamanna opened the score for Birkirkara – which goal was the 20th scored by a foreigner in this season’s campaign – and scored their seventh in the closing stages of the game, for a total of five goals in three outings since joining the Stripes during the winter transfer window.
Malta women’s international Alishia Sultana, who doubled the lead for the Stripes, produced a hat-trick as she has now joined Mġarr’s Francesca Chircop at the top of the league’s scoring charts with 13 goals.
Sultana’s hat-trick was the 10th registered during the 2021/2022 season, so far.
The other three goals were scored by Mariah Sciberras, Gabriella Zahra and Ruth Steer-Chetham – who joined the club during the summer.
Two first-half goals paved the way for Mġarr to chalk up their 10th win of the season after beating Kirkop 3-1.
Abigail Camilleri and Jasmine Vella Turner scored the two goals in the opening 45 minutes before Rebecca Bajada sealed the win with a third on minute 73.
Kathryn Ellul did pull one back for Kirkop but Mġarr managed to control their two-goal lead to try and keep the heat on leaders Birkirkara.
Meanwhile, Raiders Lija bounced back to winning ways after hitting Mtarfa for seven. The three points allowed Denis Guerra’s side to join Swieqi United in third on 22 points.
Michela Bonello Ghio and Miriana Conti opened a two-goal lead for Raiders in the first 45 minutes. Leah Ayres extended their lead just after the interval, netting the league’s 200th goal in this campaign.
Sabrin Blihi followed with a fourth – the 20th goal scored by a substitute this season. Sarah Caruana, Eva Codermartz and Rebecca Vella added three more goals to wrap up Raiders’ big win.
STANDINGS (AFTER MD15):
BIRKIRKARA – 37 POINTS
MĠARR UNITED – 31
SWIEQI UNITED – 22
RAIDERS LIJA – 22
KIRKOP UNITED – 15
MTARFA – 4
SAN ĠWANN – 1
Photo c/o Mark Zammit Cordina/Malta FA
