Owls cruise past Mġarr United, Hibs score late penalty to upset Stripes.
BIRKIRKARA 0-1 HIBERNIANS
Kiley Norkus 90 pen.
A depleted Hibernians squad scored a late winning penalty to put Birkirkara’s title bid on ice.
The Stripes headed into Saturday’s match with an eight-point lead at the top and a combination of a Birkirkara’s victory and Swieqi United failing to beat Mġarr United would have sealed their 12th title.
However, the title race is once again open with Birkirkara’s lead cut to five and with three games left.
In their next game, Birkirkara take on Mġarr where they will be without winger Alishia Sultana after picking up her fourth yellow card, before rubbing shoulders with Swieqi in their penultimate game.
Jose Borg’s Stripes threw everything at Hibernians and dominated proceedings throughout the entire 90 minutes.
Hibs, on their part, put on an impressive fighting spirit as they had to make up for the key absences of Amy Busuttil, Nicole Sciberras and captain Martina Borg.
American defender Kiley Norkus scored the all-important goal deep in stoppage time when Alexis Espitia was floored by Janice Xuereb.
Norkus converted from the penalty spot as Hibs move to 41 points.
BIRKIRKARA
J. Xuereb; G. Zahra, A. Said, S. Farrugia, A. Sultana, V. Mifsud (46 N. Kobayashi), C. Zammit, M. Grosso, A. Del Moral, V. Rapa (71 H. Russell), S. Saliba (46 F. Chircop).
HIBERNIANS
M. Muscat; N. Geren, C. Ellul, A. Galea, K. Chetcuti, S. Urpani, Y. Attard (90 S. Farrugia), K. Norkus, L. Ayres, F. Zahra (82 N. Celeste), A. Espitia.
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SWIEQI UNITED 3-0 MĠARR UNITED
Kaysia Micallef 40; Jade Flask 75, 77.
Swieqi United took advantage of Birkirkara’s surprising defeat against Hibernians to move five points behind the Stripes.
The Owls opened the score just before half-time when Malta U-17’s international Kaysia Micallef broke the deadlock.
After the change of ends, Swieqi scored twice through forward Jade Flask who returned to the senior national team during the February international window.
SWIEQI UNITED
P. Araujo; T. Scicluna, J. Flask. S. Abdulai (88 M. Vella), K. Abdulai, S. Zammit, Rafanny, J. Schembri, T. Falzon, M. Cachia (80 E. Micallef), K. Micallef (82 D. Theuma).
MĠARR UNITED
P. Ebejer; A. Camilleri, M. Debono (46 M. Aquilina), F. Peinado, Y. Carella, D. Ebejer (72 S. Camilleri), K. Sciberras (46 R. Borg), L. Cefai, A. Sivolobova, R. Bajada, B. Borg.
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BOTTOM FOUR RESULTS
VALLETTA 2-1 SAN ĠWANN
Duda Martins 72, Laura Muscat 84 (V); Oumaima Mhalli 21 (S).
MTARFA 0-1 LIJA ATHLETIC
Edera Marmara 69.
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STANDINGS
TOP FOUR: Birkirkara 48; Swieqi United 43; Hibernians 41; Mġarr United 30.
BOTTOM FOUR: Valletta 36; San Ġwann 19; Lija Athletic 16; Mtarfa 0.
