Colombian forward Nanez marks Birkirkara debut with goal

Viverly Nanez marked her Birkirkara debut with a goal in their 4-0 win over Mtarfa.

The Stripes scored all four goals in the first-half, making sure of the victory before Mtarfa opted against resuming the second-half due to a lack of substitutes after their goalkeeper picked up a serious injury.

Nanez joins after a spell in the Turkish top-flight at Antalyaspor.

Gabriella Zahra and a brace from Charlene Zammit were Birkirkara’s other goals.

This win puts the Stripes into second place on 32 points, trailing leaders Hibernians by one.

In Saturday’s other match, San Ġwann eased past Valletta 4-0 to cement their fifth spot, now on 16 points and four above the Citizens.

Oumaima Mhalli scored a hat-trick while league’s top scorer Hailey Russell added another goal to her tally.

Valletta handed a debut to four winter signings in Leona Carabott and French trio – Oriane Le Gouez, Lilou Lucas and and Lucie Lucas.

MTARFA 0-4 BIRKIRKARA (Mtarfa forfeited second half)
Viverly Nanez 13; Gabriella Zahra 24; Charlene Zammit 37, 45

MTARFA
D. Grech; C. Versteegh, E. Csik, E. Gatt, K. Ciappara, K. Camilleri, M. Abdilla, L. Tobon, S. Spiteri, P. Ciappara, R. Zammit.
Coach: Simon Spiteri.

BIRKIRKARA
M. Cachia; G. Zahra, L. Cabral, I. Camilleri, V. Rapa, A. Vassallo, C. Zammit, M. Gauci, V. Nanez, M. Cardona, E. Bispo.
Coach: Vince Galea.

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VALLETTA 0-4 SAN ĠWANN
Oumaima Mhalli 24, 28, 43; Hailey Russell 32

VALLETTA
G. Grima; M. La Rosa, A. Aloisio, M. Sultana (53 L. Lucas), R. Zerafa, S. Farrugia Sacco, Y. Grech, A. Mifsud (53 L. Lucas), E. Micallef (61 L. Carabott), S. Blihi, S. Fenech (40 O. Le Gouez).
Coach: Jean Lopes.

SAN ĠWANN
J. Caruana; A. Rapa, N. Kobayashi, M. Schembri (63 N. Attard), H. Russell (77 S. Gheiti), T. Chaimaa, O. Mhalli (71 K. Paris), K. Vella, J. Falzon.
Coach: Julian Camilleri.

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STANDINGS

HIBERNIANS 33
BIRKIRKARA 32
SWIEQI UNITED 31
MĠARR UNITED 30
SAN ĠWANN 16
VALLETTA 12
LIJA ATHLETIC 7
MTARFA 0