Hibernians move top after hitting Mtarfa for seven
MĠARR UNITED 0-2 BIRKIRKARA
Marta Grosso 28; Ann-Marie Said 90.
Birkirkara extended their perfect start to the 2023/2024 women’s league after defeating leaders Mġarr United 2-0.
The Stripes scored a goal in each half through Italian midfielder Marta Grosso and defender Ann-Marie Said to make it five wins from five league outings.
This victory, which keeps Birkirkara’s unbeaten league streak alive, propels the Stripes to 15 points as they now trail Hibernians with two points but with a couple of matches in hand.
One of those matches is next Tuesday’s highly-anticipated encounter with Swieqi United.
MĠARR UNITED
P. Ebejer; Luana, A. Camilleri, M. Debono, F. Peinado, Joelma, Y. Carella, A. Sivolobova, R. Bajada, C. Grech, B. Borg.
Substitutes used: R. Borg.
BIRKIRKARA
J. Xuereb;A. Said, S. Farrugia, F. Chircop, E. Garcia, A. Sultana, V. Mifsud, C. Zammit, M. Grosso, C. Rodgers, V. Rapa.
Substitutes used: G. Zahra, A. Del Moral, R. Giusti.
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HIBERNIANS 7-0 MTARFA
Sarah Urpani 13, 41; Alexis Espitia 34, 49, 90; Nicole Sciberras 56; Yolande Attard 76.
Hibernians broke little sweat to overcome Mtarfa and move at the top of the championship with their fifth win of the season.
The Paolites have 17 points and pipped Mġarr to first after the Greens fell to Birkirkara in the late kick-off.
Keith Gouder’s side opened a three-goal lead in the first half through a Sarah Urpani brace and an Alexis Espitia goal.
Espitia secured her personal hat-trick after the exchange of ends with two more goals while Nicole Sciberras and Yolande Attard wrapped up Hibernians’ win.
HIBERNIANS
J. Galea; N. Geren, C. Ellul, A. Busuttil, K. Chetcuti, S. Urpani, M. Borg, Y. Attard, N. Sciberras, M. Cortis, A. Espitia.
Substitutes used: C. Hili, N. Celeste, J. Falzon, S. Sammut, F. Zahra.
MTARFA
M. Abdilla; E. Azzopardi, A. Fenech, E. Borg, K. Ciappara, C. Deguara, L. Tobon, S. Spiteri, P. Ciappara, R. Zammit, E. Csik.
LIJA ATHLETIC 0-6 SWIEQI UNITED
Salamatu Abdulai 28, 51; Mariah Sciberras 47, 48; Maria Vella 73; Rafanny 75.
Salamatu Abdulai joined Mġarr United’s Joelma at the top of the league’s scoring charts after she scored twice to help Swieqi United inflict a 6-0 defeat to Lija Athletic.
The Ghana forward has now scored nine goals in five league matches with the Owls securing the victory through a Mariah Sciberras’ brace and goals from Maria Vella and Rafanny.
Saviour Darmanin’s team is now on 13 points as they face champions Birkirkara on Tuesday.
LIJA ATHLETIC
C. Pisani; S. Caruana, S. Bugeja, E. Marmara, S. Buttigieg, M. Schembri, N. Zarb Cousin, R. Mifsud, L. Micallef, A. Gingell, K. Grech.
Substitutes used: E. Xuereb, D. Camilleri.
SWIEQI UNITED
P. Araujo; J. Dimech, D. Theuma, M. Sciberras, E. Xuereb, S. Abdulai, K. Abdulai, S. Zammit, Rafanny, J. Schembri, T. Falzon.
Substitutes used: G. Tonna, M. Cachia, M. Vella, T. Scicluna, L. Frendo.
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VALLETTA 3-0 SAN ĠWANN
Georgiana Mifsud 16; Laura Muscat 30; Marcelle 45.
Valletta clinched their third win of the season after beating San Ġwann, scoring all goals in the first half.
The Citizens opened the score through defender Georgiana Mifsud with Laura Muscat and Marcelle securing the victory before the half-time whistle.
VALLETTA
Andressa; A. Aloisio, G. Mifsud, M. Sultana, Duda Martins, L. Muscat, M. Conti, Y. Grech, G. Antonelli, S. Blihi, Marcelle.
Substitutes used: M. La Rosa, S. Farrugia Sacco, L. Debono.
SAN ĠWANN
J. Caruana; S. Gheiti, A. Rapa, M. Schembri, T. Scicluna, T. Chaimaa, N. Attard, O. Mhalli, F. Al Girbi, Y. Attard, K. Vella.
Substitutes used: A. Kricak, M. Ibrahim, F. Zarb, A. Fiteni, C. Grixti.
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STANDINGS
Hibernians 17; Birkirkara 15; Mġarr United 14; Swieqi United 13; Valletta 9; San Ġwann, Lija Athletic 4; Mtarfa 0.
Photo: Lara Schembri Photography/The Sporting Fan.
