Birkirkara beat Swieqi to clinch 12th women’s title, seventh in a row

BIRKIRKARA 3-0 SWIEQI UNITED
Arianna Del Moral 36, Marta Grosso 64, Alishia Sultana 80.

Birkirkara have completed their championship defense with a spectacular victory over second-place Swieqi United to clinch their 12th Assikura Women’s League title.

Heading into this match, a point was enough for Birkirkara to seal the title but the Stripes put on a commanding showing, flexing their muscles in the most important game of the season.

The Stripes have now won seven domestic titles in a row, one shy from matching Hibernians’ record of eight set between 1998/1999 and 2005/2006.

Birkirkara’s coach Jose Borg – who earlier was in charge of the men’s team for the Premier League tie against Naxxar Lions, deployed Japanese Nanako Kobayashi from the start in the absence of the suspended Charlene Zammit.

Swieqi United, on their part, welcomed back winger Kaysia Micallef who was missing from last week’s win over Hibernians.

At the same time, they were still missing key players Emma Xuereb and Jessica Dimech who are nursing some injuries.

The two teams exchanged proceedings in the opening stages of the game without creating any serious danger until Alishia Sultana almost made Swieqi pay for a mistake at the back just to be denied by Patricia Araujo inside the area.

The Stripes threatened again through Francesca Chircop but her header from a corner-kick just glanced past Araujo’s goal.

Moments later, Araujo did deny Chircop but the rebound ricocheted on Arianna Del Moral who converted into goal to put Birkirkara one up.

After the change of ends, Karima Abdulai came off the bench for captain Dorianne Theuma to bolster their attacking department.

However, it was Birkirkara who scored the game’s next goal through Marta Grosso who has now found her 16th strike of her memorable campaign.

Winger Mariah Sciberras came on for the Owls, trying to spark their attack into life with 20 minutes left on the clock.

Nonetheless, Birkirkara managed to find a third and wrap up the win through Alishia Sultana as she reached the double digits in the league’s scoring charts.

BIRKIRKARA
J. Xuereb; G. Zahra (65 V. Mifsud), A. Said, S. Farrugia, N. Kobayashi, F. Chircop (65 S. Saliba), A. Sultana (81 M. Cardona), M. Grosso, A. Del Moral (84 S. Francalanza), C. Rogers, V. Rapa (84 I. Farrugia).

SWIEQI UNITED
P. Araujo; T. Scicluna, D. Theuma (57 K. Abdulai), J. Flask, S. Abdulai, S. Zammit, Rafanny, J. Schembri (69 M. Sciberras), T. Falzon, M. Cachia, K. Micallef.

Referee: Ranald Portelli.

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OTHER RESULTS

MTARFA 0-3 VALLETTA
Laura Muscat 13; Miriana Conti 28, 71.

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REMAINING FIXTURES

SATURDAY
San Ġwann vs Lija Athletic – 14.00, Mġarr Ground.
Mġarr United vs Hibernians – 16.30, Mġarr Ground.