Cup holders Swieqi advance to semis, to face Hibs in repeat of last year’s final

Swieqi United secured a comfortable qualification to the semi-finals of the Assikura Women’s Knockout competition as they seek to successfully defend their title.

The Owls, guided by Dorianne Theuma, eased past Mtarfa 12-0 with Brazilian Ana Araujo scoring four goals.

Ghana pair Karima Abdulai and Salamatu Abdulai combined for five goals – three goals for the former while Shona Zammit and Jade Flask, two Malta internationals, scored a brace and a goal each respectively.

They will now face Hibernians in a repeat of last year’s final when Swieqi had won 2-1 with goals from Dorianne Theuma and Rebecca Atinga, who is no longer part of the Owls.

The Paolites, on their part, advanced to the semi-finals of the competition after a narrow win over Mġarr United at the Centenary Stadium.

American defender Natalee Geren celebrated her contract renewal with a long-range freekick that beat Malta goalkeeper Patricia Ebejer.

Forward Leah Ayres doubled the lead for Kenneth Costantino’s side with a point-blank range effort before half-time.

After the change of ends, Brenda Borg pulled one back for the Greens but it was not enough to avoid Mġarr’s exit from the competition.

Meanwhile, league champions Birkirkara hit Lija Athletic for seven to set up a semi-final meeting with Valletta.

Sara Saliba netted a hat-trick while Veronique Mifsud grabbed a brace in a span of one minute.

The other goals were scored by Alishia Sultana and Arianna Del Moral.

Jose Borg’s side fielded veteran goalkeeper Tonina Dimech, age 64, between the sticks after Malta’s number one choice Janice Xuereb damaged her ACL in last Tuesday’s Euro qualifier against Portugal.

Valletta qualified after beating San Ġwann with Laura Muscat scoring a hat-trick while Francesca Bartolo and Sabrin Blihi grabbed a goal each.

QUARTER-FINAL RESULTS

BIRKIRKARA 7-0 LIJA ATHLETIC
Sara Saliba 8, 44, 69; Veronique Mifsud 46, 47; Alishia Sultana 7; Arianna Del Moral 39.

MĠARR UNITED 1-2 HIBERNIANS
Brenda Borg 53 (M); Natalee Geren 18, Leah Ayres 37 (H).

MTARFA 0-12 SWIEQI UNITED
Ana Araujo 26, 42, 66, 88; Karima Abdulai 10, 30, 43; Shona Zammit 33, 67; Salamatu Abdulai 42, 62; Jade Flask 12.

VALLETTA 5-0 SAN ĠWANN
Laura Muscat 8, 36, 55; Francesca Bartolo 45; Sabrin Blihi 89.

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SEMI-FINALS (dates TBC)

Swieqi United vs Hibernians
Birkirkara vs Valletta

Winners advance to Saturday, April 27th’s final – kick-off time to be confirmed.