Hibernians secure late win to keep track of leaders Greens
SWIEQI UNITED 0-0 MĠARR UNITED
Swieqi United and Mġarr United fired blanks in the highlight game of the week.
Following this draw, Mġarr remain leaders but saw their lead being cut to just one point after Hibernians had defeated San Ġwann earlier.
On the other hand, Swieqi move to 10 points after five outings as they trail the Greens by four points.
An positive note for Saviour Darmanin’s Swieqi was the return of captain Dorianne Theuma, marking her first appearance of the season.
The experienced midfielder has been called up by Manuela Tesse in the provisional squad for the Andorra double-header in the UEFA Women’s Nations League.
SWIEQI UNITED
P. Araujo; J. Dimech, M. Sciberras, S. Abdulai, S. Zammit, Rafanny, K, Micallef, J. Schembri, T. Falzon, G. Tonna, K. Metzger.
Coach: Saviour Darmanin.
Substitutes used: Ema Micallef, Kim Fava, Dorianne Theuma.
MĠARR UNITED
P. Ebejer; L. Cabral, A. Camilleri, F. Peinado, Joelma, Y. Carella, R. Borg, A. Sivolobova, R. Bajada, C. Grech, B. Borg.
Coach: Michael Mangion.
Substitutes used: Daniela Ebejer.
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SAN ĠWANN 0-1 HIBERNIANS
Alexis Espitia 86.
A late goal by Alexis Espitia helped Hibernians survive San Ġwann scare and live up to the expectations to claim the three points.
Julian Camilleri’s San Ġwann, who remain on four points, put on an organised display that kept Hibernians at bay for majority of the game.
The Paolites missed a penalty when captain Martina Borg’s effort struck the post but nonetheless they still managed to snatch a late win through Espitia, who scored her third goal of the season.
SAN ĠWANN
J. Caruana; S. Gheiti, A. Rapa, M. Schembri, T. Scicluna, T. Chaimaa, N. Attard, A. Kricak, F. Al Girbi, F. Zarb, K. Vella.
Coach: Julian Camilleri.
Substitutes used: K. Mamo, A. Fiteni.
HIBERNIANS
J. Galea; C. Ellul, N. Geren, A, Busuttil, S. Urpani, N. Sciberras, F. Zahra, Y. Attard, M. Borg, A. Espitia, L. Ayres.
Coach: Keith Gouder.
Substitutes used: K. Chetcuti, N. Celeste, M. Cortis.
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MTARFA 1-3 LIJA ATHLETIC
Estelle Borg 52 (M); Vanessa Carneiro 28 (L), Leanne Micallef 61 (L), Simone Buttigieg 90 (L).
Lija Athletic picked their first win of the season after beating Mtarfa, who remain the only team without a single point so far.
Vanessa Carneiro drew first blood for Lija early in the first half with Estelle Borg levelling terms for Mtarfa in the opening stages of the second half.
Lija made sure of the win through Leanne Micallef and Simone Buttigieg’s goals.
MTARFA
D. Grech; D. Attard, S. Peneva, E. Borg, K. Ciappara, C. Deguara, L. Tobon, S. Spiteri, P. Ciappara, R. Zammit, E. Csik.
Coach: Simon Spiteri.
Substitutes used: A. Fenech, S. Falzon, M. Abdilla.
LIJA ATHLETIC
C. Pisani; S. Caruana, S. Bugeja, V. Carneiro, S. Buttigieg, M. Schembri, N. Zarb Cousin, R. Mifsud, L. Micallef, A. Galea Gingell, K. Grech.
Coach: Jethron Azzopardi.
Substitutes used: E. Xuereb, D. Camilleri.
STANDINGS
Mġarr United 14; Hibernians 13; Birkirkara 12; Swieqi United 10; Valletta 6; San Ġwann, Lija Athletic 4; Mtarfa 0.
Photo: Michael Azzopardi Photography.
