National championship returns after Malta’s heroics in UEFA Women’s Nations League.
The Assikura Women’s League will return this week with a highly-anticipated match as leaders Hibernians will face second-place Swieqi United on Friday.
It resumes following the heroics of the senior national team which saw them climb into League B of the UEFA Women’s Nations League.
Only two points separate Hibernians (25 points) and Swieqi United (22) with the two teams coming for this game in high spirits after winning their latest league encounters.
Just before the international break, Hibernians eased past Lija Athletic in a 7-2 victory at the Victor Tedesco Stadium.
Alexis Espitia was one of the scorers for the Paolites as she cemented herself as Hibernians’ best scorer with 10 goals so far.
Ten goals is also the number conceded across the 10 matches played so far by Hibernians, as they have the third best defensive record in the league.
At the other end of the field, with the fourth-best attacking record, Hibernians found the net on 30 occasions.
Returning to club football will be Nicole Sciberras who played in both Malta’s games against Moldova and Latvia in this December international break.
On the other hand, Swieqi United will welcome back Shona Zammit, Jessica Dimech, Jade Schembri, Tammy Falzon, Dorianne Theuma and Emma Xuereb who were all called up by Manuela Tesse for the Nations League finale.
Saviour Darmanin’s team is at the back of a comfortable 7-0 win over San Ġwann with Salamatu Abdulai and Karima Abdulai finding the net in this game as well.
Salamatu is the league’s best scorer with 14 goals while Karima is just two shy from her fellow Ghana colleague.
Their combined total of 26 goals helped Swieqi become the best scoring team in this league as they boast the highest scoring record with 45 goals in this 2023/2024 campaign.
Meanwhile, late last month, the Owls announced that American winger Kennedy Metzger’s adventure at the club was cut short and was returning home.
She had joined last year’s domestic cup winners during the summer transfer window and was a regular player in the opening part of the season before an injury had sidelined her for several matches.
Lurking between both Salamatu and Karima Abdulai is Fernanda Peinado of Mġarr United with 13 goals.
She scored in the Green’s latest match, a 4-1 win over Valletta, as the Greens put daylight between them and the Citizens to get their title hopes back on track.
Mġarr, sitting fourth on 20 points, will be looking to overcome bottom side Mtarfa while hoping to take advantage of any slip from either Hibernians or Swieqi in the direct encounter.
Keeping an eye on this weekend’s big match will be champions Birkirkara as well.
Jose Borg’s team sit third on 22 points but with a game in hand – a reschedule fixture against Mtarfa pencilled for December 19.
The Stripes, who conceded just once this season – a season’s best so far, will face San Ġwann who have seven points to show for their efforts.
Elsewhere, Valletta – who have 12 points – take on Lija Athletic, who have recorded four points in this campaign so far.
FIXTURES
FRIDAY
Swieqi United vs Hibernians – 2pm, Centenary Stadium.
San Ġwann vs Birkirkara – 4.30pm, Centenary Stadium.
SATURDAY
Mġarr United vs Mtarfa – 14.00, Mġarr Ground.
Valletta vs Lija Athletic – 16.30, Mġarr Ground.
