Swieqi United continued their strong campaign with a commanding win over bottom-placed Mtarfa, in the final Assikura Women’s League matchday of the year.
The Owls regained top spot with 31 points, leading Hibernians who sit second on 30 while Birkirkara follow with 29. Mġarr remain fourth on 27.
On the other hand, Mtarfa are still without points.
Jade Schembri opened the scoring in the 13th minute, setting the tone for a dominant performance. Sarah Urpani doubled the lead in the 26th minute.
The second half saw Swieqi intensify their attack. Karima Abdulai netted a brace while Tea Kimamo added another in the 75th minute, followed by a late flurry of goals from winter arrival Asana Alhassan, Karima Abdulai for her hat-trick, and summer signing Nicola Lebakos.
For this match, Swieqi handed a debut to Alhassan who is a Ghana international and was part of the U-20’s selection during this year’s World Cup, in which Salamatu Abdulai also played.
Hibernians delivered a clinical performance, dismantling San Ġwann with a relentless attacking display.
Alexis Espitia scored five goals, moving to 15 in the league’s scoring charts.
Joelma added to the tally with a well-taken brace. Leah Ayres rounded off the scoring in the 58th minute, capitalizing on a defensive lapse.
Birkirkara overcame an early scare to secure a dominant win against Valletta.
The match began Luana Cabral putting the Stripes ahead before Rodianne Zerafa levelled terms for the Citizens, scoring her third club goal in three outings.
However, Birkirkara scored four goals after the break to clinch a vital win.
Cabral, Charlene Zammit, Erica Bispo and Alishia Cassar wrapped up the win.
Mġarr showcased their attacking prowess with a commanding win over Lija Athletic.
Yulya Carella was the standout performer for Mġarr against Lija, netting four goals.
She has now joined Hailey Russell of San Ġwann with 16 goals at the top of the league’s scorer list.
Valeria Villegas added her name to the scoresheet in the 77th minute, while Alejandra Villegas wrapped up the victory with an 86th-minute strike.
RESULTS
SAN ĠWANN 0-8 HIBERNIANS
Alexis Espitia 14, 32, 37, 73, 86; Joelma 15, 35; Leah Ayres 58.
SAN ĠWANN
J. Caruana; A. Rapa, N. Kobayashi, M. Schembri, H. Russell, T. Chaimaa, O. Mhalli, S. Gheiti (46 F. Al Girbi), N. Blundell (75 K. Paris), K. Vella (75 K. Abela), J. Falzon.
Coach: Julian Camilleri.
HIBERNIANS
E. Harrington (81 M. Muscat); N. Geren, C. Ellul (52 A. Busuttil), A. Galea, J. Dimech, K. Chetcuti (52 Y. Attard), M. Borg, N. Sciberras, I. Farrugia (52 S. Vella Barberi), A. Espitia, Joelma.
Coach: Kenneth Costantino.
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LIJA ATHLETIC 0-6 MĠARR UNITED
Yulya Carella 7, 59, 72, 79; Valeria Villegas 77; Alejandra Villegas 86.
LIJA ATHLETIC
S. Bugeja; L. Cassar, Y. Zammit (82 B. Borg), M. Stagno, K. Abela (71 C. Deguara), V. Carneiro, N. Zarb Cousin, K. Pantalleresco, L. Micallef, Y. Azzopardi, H. Ali (68 E. Galea).
Coach: Jethron Azzopardi.
MĠARR UNITED
P. Ebejer; A. Camilleri, M. Debono, Y. Carella, R. Borg, K. Sciberras, L. Cefai (78 M. Mizzi), V. Villegas, Y. Mendez, A. Villegas, A. Grech.
Coach: Ryan Vella.
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BIRKIRKARA 5-1 VALLETTA
Luana Cabral 5, 58; Charlene Zammit 70; Erica Bispo 75; Alishia Cassar 82 (B); Rodianne Zerafa 6 (V).
BIRKIRKARA
M. Cachia; G. Zahra (74 M. Gauci), Y. Hazekawa, L. Cabral, A. Cassar, R. Giusti (63 A. Vassallo), V. Rapa, C. Zammit, C. Schechinger, M. Cardona (88 E. Saia), K. Zammit.
Coach: Vince Galea.
VALLETTA
G. Grima; M. La Rosa, A. Aloisio, M. Sultana, R. Zerafa, L. Muscat (81 K. Zammit), Y. Grech, E. Micallef, S. Blihi, L. Vella, S. Fenech (81 H. Grima).
Coach: Jean Lopes.
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SWIEQI UNITED 8-0 MTARFA
Jade Schembri 13; Sarah Urpani 26; Karima Abdulai 63, 72, 90; Tea Kimamo 75; Asana Alhassan 89; Nicola Lebakos 90.
SWIEQI UNITED
C. Borg; A. Alhassan, E. Micallef (77 L. Frendo), S. Urpani (67 T. Scicluna), E. Xuereb (67 S. Mallia), S. Abdulai (42 T. Kimamo), K. Abdulai, N. Lebakos, J. Schembri (67 I. Abela), M. Cachia, M. Conti.
Coach: Dorianne Theuma.
MTARFA
D. Grech; C. Versteegh, L. Tobon, A. Fenech (77 E. Gatt), S. Ghigo (86 C. De Lavigne), K. Ciappara, M. Abdilla, K. Gribbon, S. Spiteri, P. Ciappara, R. Zammit.
Coach: Gaetano Papaleo.
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STANDINGS
SWIEQI UNITED 31, HIBERNIANS 30; BIRKIRKARA 29; MĠARR UNITED 27; SAN ĠWANN 13; VALLETTA 11; LIJA ATHLETIC 9; MTARFA 0.
