A late Birkirkara goal rescued their league unbeaten streak to wrap up their successful 2021/2022 MFA Women’s League run with a draw against Swieqi United. Mġarr United and Raiders Lija beat San Ġwann and Kirkop United respectively to end their respective campaigns on a high.
Sara Saliba, who has just won the U-20’s title with Birkirkara, scored five minutes from time as Birkirkara managed to peg back Swieqi to make sure their quest to beat the unbeaten run set by Hibernians goes on.
Birkirkara have now stretched their unbeaten run to 69 leagues games, matching the domestic record set by Hibernians. The Stripes can grab hold of that record should they win their 2022/2023 season opener.
Raina Giusti had put the Stripes ahead before Dorianne Theuma and Shona Zammit scored a goal each to give Swieqi the lead until Birkirkara managed to level terms.
A positive end to the season for the Owls who made amends for their shaky start to the season to finish second, one point above Mġarr.
Billy Mock’s are also on a positive streak after making six straight games without a defeat – a run that enables them to place second in the league.
For this game, Birkirkara coach Melania Bajada deployed veteran goalkeeper Tonina Dimech between the sticks, who conceded her first goals of the season. This means that Birkirkara’s other goalkeeper – Isabel Sanchez – finished with the best clean sheet record of 257 minutes.
The Stripes were presented with the MFA Women’s League’s trophy by Malta FA vice-president Ludovico Micallef as they have now won 10 domestic championships.
In addition, Swieqi United’s forward Fernanda Peinado was presented with the Women’s League Player of the Month for April accolade as well.
Mġarr’s pair Francesca Chircop and Brenda Borg finished in the top two positions of the league’s scoring charts with 20 and 19 goals respectively.
Both players grabbed a brace each as the Greens made little work of San Ġwann to secure a 7-0 victory.
Raiders Lija scored two late goals through Nell Zarb Cousin and Leah Ayres to beat Kirkop United 2-0 in their final game of the season.
Photo: Stephen Gatt.
