Hibs Dock First Points Off Mgarr In Feisty Affair

by Eleanor Saliba

Mgarr United and Hibernians shared the spoils in a goalless stalemate that had the makings of another final. Both will rue missed opportunities, with the two leaving no stone or leg unturned in a feisty evening that settled the defences firmly on top.

Team Selections

Mgarr’s Ryan Vella swapped his goalkeeper, with Giulia D’Antuono guarding the posts for the league encounter. Maia Debono came in at right-back, alongside an unchanged trio in Leanne Cefai, captain Abigail Camilleri and Yanina Mendez. Brenda Borg started in partnership with Amber Grech, while Yulya Carella and Ines N’Guessan started on the flanks. Alejandra Villegas Caly orchestrated behind Valeria Villegas Caly.

Meanwhile, Hibernians’ Martina Borg kept faith in Maya Cachia in goal. Natalee Geren was retreated from midfield, partnering Amber Galea in defence, while Cali Schechinger and Georgiana Mifsud continued their stay in the wide areas. Francesca Bartolo came into midfield alongside captain Nicole Sciberras. Kayleigh Chetcuti occupied the number ten position with Sylivia Kabene and Sarah Vella Barberi starting on the flanks. Leah Ayres led the attack.

How It Unfolded

Igor Kankaras initiated proceedings with anticipations high as the two sides grappled, with the remnants of the Jubilee final still fresh in minds, as the stakes in the league took centre stage.

Hibernians were in with a clear opportunity inside the second minute, with Sylivia Kabene’s pace on display. Released behind in acres of space, she found Giulia D’Antuono ready to pounce with a good block to keep things level. At the other end, Maya Cachia equally delivered, with the Hibernians goalkeeper off her line as Alejandra Villegas Caly set off on the charge.

The stage was set, with tensions in the stands mirrored on the touchlines as Martina Borg paced frantically in the box, while Ryan Vella stood rooted in the spot dishing instructions.

Highly physical in midfield, it was Mgarr United who were committing numbers and earning the opportunities to drive corners into the box. Yanina Mendez repeatedly targeted Maya Cachia, but the Hibernians goalkeeper did just enough to keep out the Greens. On their part, the Paolites sought the opportunity on the counter, but found the Greens smart to their ploy.

Sylivia Kabene had the earliest opportunity, with the Greens smart to the counter-attacking threat later on. Credit: Brandon Bonett.

Yulya Carella teased a cross into the box, with the Hibernians defence doing enough to hold off the threat from Ines N’Guessan and Valeria Villegas Caly. The Colombian was kept in check by Natalee Geren and Amber Galea. Equally so, Leanne Cefai and Abigail Camilleri were alert as Sylivia Kabene and Nicole Sciberras managed the crosses into the box.

The makings of the match continued to unravel, with Kayleigh Chetcuti looking to get underneath Amber Grech’s skin, but the Mgarr United midfielder walked away from trouble as Igor Kankaras weighed things.

Brenda Borg injected some excitement showing nifty feet to get past Natalee Geren before attempting to release Valeria Villegas Caly on pace. However, Cali Schechinger was well placed to get the foot in for a corner. The Greens almost made it pay with another in-swinger from Yanina Mendez that hugged the line following a touch from Maya Cachia. However, the Greens were unable to nudge it over the line.

Leah Ayres and Valeria Villegas Caly tested the goalkeepers at either end, but Giulia D’Antuono and Maya Cachia were both looking to continue showing their arsenal in search of maintaining the clean-sheet.

Martina Borg switched up the attack with Sylivia Kabene thrusted centrally, while Leah Ayres moved out wide. However, the Greens continued to have the better share of opportunities with frustrations rising from the Paolites as the Greens got the major share of chances to put the ball into the box from dead-ball situations.

Still, neither side managed to make their set-pieces pay off, with Igor Kankaras pushed to the limit and maintaining resolve to keep the cards in his pocket as each side gave their own piece of mind and flesh in the match.

There were no changes from the two coaches at the break, but the cards started flying off the referee’s pocket at the restart, with the two teams continuing their physical approach.

Sarah Vella Barberi came close for the Paolites in the 51st minute. Natalee Geren launched toward the winger, who drove into the box before pulling the trigger from the tight angle. Giulia D’Antuono palmed it into the crossbar, with the Greens’ defence alert to clear ahead of the arriving Kayleigh Chetcuti.

Maia Debono clearing away the ball as Kayleigh Chetcuti attempted to pounce on the opportunity at the far post. Credit: Brandon Bonett.

Maia Debono struck a free-kick at the other end, but found the Paolites’ wall ready to do its job, with Maya Cachia clutching the remaining pieces. Yulya Carella attempted a first-time volley with the youngster unable to catch it cleanly, before Giulia D’Antuono collected Sylivia Kabene’s delivery at the other end.

Niggles mounted with both sets of players looking to soldier on. However, Martina Borg made a double switch at the 71st minute with Misozi Zulu and Alanah Ghio released into the pitch, while Sarah Vella Barberi and Francesca Bartolo gave way.

The Paolites mounted the better opportunities as the final twenty minutes approached with the memories of Monday still fresh. However, Giulia D’Antuono delivered the save against an attempt from Leah Ayres. A low-worked corner routine found Natalee Geren, but the defender was unable to get the clean touch, instead seeing the finish rise over the bar. Leanne Cefai continued be an absolute wall in delivering a perfectly-timed tackle to stop Sylivia Kabene in her tracks as the Ugandan looked to get into a foot race.

Igor Kankaras took centre stage with the card count rising as injury time approached, with Ryan Vella and Martina Borg also both making the cut for questioning decisions. Despite this both continued to be animated in search of motivating their side to snatch it in the dying moments, but Kankaras’ whistle sent the two even and both defences happiest on the night.

Yellow cards were the only tallies that racked up for the two on the night. Credit: Brandon Bonett.

Final Score: Mgarr United 0 – 0 Hibernians

Standings & Next Matches

Hibernians dock the first points off Mgarr United in the league, marking just the second match of the season in which the Greens have walked away without a win.

Elsewhere, Swieqi United dispatched Valletta to take momentum into the next match against the league leaders Mgarr United. They inch two points ahead of the Paolites, six below the Greens. The two are set to meet at the Victor Tedesco Stadium at 20:30 on Friday (19th).

Hibernians will close off the calendar year against San Gwann, with the two sides meeting at the Charles Abela Stadium on Saturday 20th at 18:00.