MĠARR UNITED 2-0 SWIEQI UNITED
J. N’Guessan 14. A. Villegas 24.
Mġarr United: G. D’Antuono, A. Camilleri, A. Villegas, M. Debono, Y. Carella (86 K. Sciberras), L. Cefai, V. Villegas (85 G. Antonelli), Y. Mendez, R. Bajada, J. N’Guessan, A. Grech.
Swieqi United: P. Araujo; V. Rapa, E. Xuereb, S. Abdulai, A. Yaneva, S. Zammit (75 E. Micallef), J. Schembri (63 S. Urpani), T. Falzon. A. Kricak, M. Cachia, S. Saliba.
SAN ĠWANN 0-2 HIBERNIANS
K. Chetcuti 67, N. Sciberras 70.
San Ġwann: J. Caruana; A. Rapa, M. Kasim, S. Blihi, L. Vella, N. Blundell, F. Al Girbi (46 R. Borg), M. Fanega, K. Paris (76 T. Muscat), H. Russell, R. Zerafa (62 N. Addo).
Hibernians: M. Cachia; N. Geren. C. Schechinger, A. Galea (46 Y. Attard), J. Dimech, K. Chetcuti, G. Mifsud (78 F. Bartolo, N. Celeste (46 L. Muscat), L. Ayres (68 L. Calleja), N. Sciberras, I. Farrugia (68 O. Nazarko).
BIRKIRKARA 5-1 VALLETTA
S. Farrugia 29, 73 pen.; G. Zahra 52, M. Pellegrini 84, 88.
Birkirkara: J. Xuereb (82 J. Zarb); G. Zahra, L. Azzopardi (46 S. Francalanza), S. Farrugia, A. Busuttil, E. Micallef (55 K. Sacco), Y. Grech (66 A. Vassallo), M. Pellegrini, A. Mercieca (46 I. Stringer), M. Cardona, I. Camilleri.
Valletta: G. Grima; S. Fenech (75 L. Carabott), E. Marmara, M. Belkis (46 D. Fenech), Joelma, L. Zolorsano, H. Fenech, M. Abdilla (62 S. Muscat), J. Camilleri (46 L. Cassar), I. Sultana, S. Bugeja.
Defending champions Swieqi United began their title defence with a setback, falling 2-0 to last season’s runners-up Mġarr United.
Ryan Vella’s side featured just one new face in the starting line-up from last season, French forward Josline N’Guessan, who wasted no time in making an impact. She struck after 14 minutes to hand Mġarr the lead before Colombian striker Alejandra Villegas doubled the advantage 10 minutes later.
Late on, Gaia Antonelli also made her debut for the Greens, who underlined their credentials as serious title contenders.
Swieqi, led by coach Dorianne Theuma, lined up with the same core that featured in this summer’s UEFA Women’s Champions League, though defender Rafanny remained sidelined through injury.
Hibernians opened their campaign with a 2-0 win over San Ġwann, courtesy of two second-half goals.
The Paolites, now under the guidance of former player Martina Borg, handed debuts to several summer signings including goalkeeper Maya Cachia, defender Calista Schechinger, Laura Muscat, Lisa Calleja and Francesca Bartolo.
Kayleigh Chetcuti broke the deadlock in the 67th minute before captain Nicole Sciberras sealed the victory, ensuring Borg’s reign started on a positive note.
Birkirkara began the season in dominant fashion with a 5-1 win over newcomers Valletta.
The Stripes were boosted by the long-awaited return of captain Stephania Farrugia, who marked her comeback from a serious knee injury with a brace. New signing Maya Pellegrini, formerly of Chile’s youth national team, also scored twice on her debut, while Gabriella Zahra added the fifth.
Coach Billy Mock also introduced fresh recruits Amy Busuttil, Eunice Micallef and Ylenia Grech.
Valletta’s consolation came through Brazilian forward Joelma, who later saw red.
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Hibernians, Birkirkara meet in MD2
Matchday 2 of the women’s league will see Hibernians and Birkirkara go head-to-head in an early clash between two sides who both opened with victories.
The Paolites and the Stripes boast youthful squads, with several players emerging from their academies or recruited during the summer.
It will also mark the first touchline duel between new coaches Martina Borg and Billy Mock.
Meanwhile, fresh from their statement win over champions Swieqi United, Mġarr United will be aiming to consolidate their strong start when they face Valletta.
Ryan Vella’s side will once again look to forwards Josline N’Guessan and Alejandra Villegas to provide the firepower as they continue their title push.
Valletta, led by Anthony Cremona, will seek a response after their heavy opening defeat to Birkirkara and to prove they can be more competitive against the league’s top sides.
Champions Swieqi will be determined to bounce back from their setback against Mġarr when they meet San Ġwann.
Dorianne Theuma’s side will be eyeing an immediate return to winning ways, though San Ġwann — under the guidance of Julian Camilleri — showed resilience in their opener against Hibernians and will be eager to push another contender.
NEXT FIXTURES
THURSDAY
Hibernians vs Birkirkara – 8.30pm, Centenary Stadium.
FRIDAY
Valletta vs Mġarr United – 8.30pm, Centenary Stadium.
SATURDAY
Swieqi United vs San Ġwann – 8.30pm, Centenary Stadium.
