Champions Birkirkara, Mġarr produce comfortable wins in women’s league openers

BIRKIRKARA 11-0 SAN ĠWANN
Luana Cabral 5, 10, 51; Francesca Chircop 6, 48, 59; Alishia Sultana 43, 81; Yuna Hazekawa 6; Calista Schechinger 25; Naomi Blundell 30 og.

Champions Birkirkara launched their title defense in style after hitting San Ġwann for 11.

Debutant Luana Cabral marked her first appearance since joining from Mġarr United with a hat-trick, with forward Francesca Chircop – also formerly of the Greens, scoring three goals too.

Alishia Sultana grabbed a brace while the other goals were scored by newcomers Yuna Hazekawa and Calista Schechinger, followed up by a Naomi Blundell own goal.

Led by new coach Vince Galea, Birkirkara had Maya Cachia between the sticks, who returned to the Stripes this summer after three seasons in Italian football.

On the other part, San Ġwann handed debuts to their new arrivals as well including former Birkirkara forward Hailey Russell of the United States.

BIRKIRKARA
M. Cachia; G. Zahra, S. Farrugia, Y. Hazekawa (30 S. Francalanza), F. Chircop (65 R. Steer-Chetham), L. Cabral (65 I. Camilleri), A. Sultana, C. Zammit (58 M. Fenech), C. Schechinger (46 R. Giusti), M. Cardona.
Coach: Vince Galea.

SAN ĠWANN
G. Muscat; A. Rapa, T. Chaimaa (84 C. Grixti), N. Blundell, Y. Attard (46 S. Gheiti), K, Vella, J. Falzon, H. Russell (71 T. Muscat), N. Attard (53 M. Schembri).
Coach: Julian Camilleri.

Referee: Luca Formosa.

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MĠARR UNITED 14-0 MTARFA
Yulya Carella 9, 20, 26, 73, 79; Brenda Borg 13, 22, 33; Alejandara Villegas 18, 52; Maia Debono 50; Rodiana Borg 64; Rebecca Bajada 84; Amber Grech 85.

Mġarr United secured a comfortable win over Mtarfa with Yulya Carella scoring five goals.

Last year’s signing scored a hat-trick in the opening 45 minutes before adding another two after the break.

Captain Brenda Borg scored a trio of goals as well between the 13th and the 33rd minute.

Summer signings Alejandra Villegas scored a brace on her club debut while the other goals were registered by Maia Debono, Rebecca Bajada and Amber Grech.

For the Greens, Alejandra’s sisiter, Valeria, was making her first appearance together with Argentine Yanina Mendez.

On the other hand, Mtarfa also had some new faces in their side including their latest addition Saleisha Ghigo.

MĠARR UNITED
P. Ebejer; A. Camilleri, M. Debono, V. Mifsud, Y. Carella, L. Cefai (60 M. Mizzi), V. Villegas (40 A. Grech), Y. Mendez (60 R. Borg), R. Bajada, A. Villegas (64 D. Ebejer), B. Borg (64 S. Camilleri).
Coach: Ryan Vella.

MTARFA
D. Grech (69 K. Micallef); D. Attard. S. Ghigo (46 K. Gribbon), A. Fenech, J. Camilleri, E. Borg, M. Abdilla, E. Farrugia, J. Camilleri (69 O. Jelili), P. Ciappara, R. Zammit.
Coach: Simon Spiteri.

Referee: Stefan Minic.

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VALLETTA 1-1 LIJA ATHLETIC
Eduarda Souza 90 (V); Edera Marmara 79.

Elsewhere, a last-gasp goal rescued Valletta a point against Lija Athletic in their opening game of the season.

Lija Athletic, coached by Jethron Azzopardi, forged ahead through Edera Marmara.

However, the Citizens managed to snatch a late point through Brazilian Eduarda Souza.

Both teams had new faces in their teams with Sarah Fenech and Kim Fava making their Valletta debut while Samira Bouzid was playing her first Lija match.

VALLETTA
A. Mickaely; M. La Rosa (68 S. Farrugia Sacco), E. Souza, M. Sultana (59 E. Micallef), L. Muscat, Y. Grech, S. Vella Barberi, M. Oliveira, S. Blihi, S. Fenech, K. Fava (82 A. Mifsud).
Coach: Francesco Galluzzo.

LIJA ATHLETIC
C. Pisani; S. Bouzid (46 M. Schembri), N. Zarb Cousin, S. Bugeja, D. Camilleri (63 M. Ibrahim), E. Marmara, K. Pantalleresco, R. Mifsud, L. Micallef (60 K. Grech), V. Carneiro, Y. Azzopardi.
Coach: Jethron Azzopardi.

Referee: Luca Grech.

Yellow cards: Souza, Zarb Cousin, Carneiro, Ibrahim, Marmara.

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STANDINGS

MĠARR UNITED, BIRKIRKARA, HIBERNIANS 3; VALLETTA, LIJA ATHLETIC 1; SWIEQI UNITED, SAN ĠWANN, MTARFA 0.