Mġarr United etched their name into the history books with a commanding 2-0 win over Hibernians to clinch their first-ever trophy in women’s football—the Assikura Women’s Knock-Out title. The final, played on Thursday, showcased the attacking flair and tenacity of Mġarr’s Colombian talents, Maria Hernandez and Valeria Villegas, who were instrumental in the team’s historic triumph.
Mġarr made an assertive start and opened the scoring just six minutes into the match. Midfielder Yanina Mendez delivered an accurate corner which was met by Hernandez, who timed her leap to perfection and directed a powerful header past Hibernians goalkeeper Elizabeth Harrington.
Hibernians, aiming to break their streak of near misses in the competition, attempted to respond, but were stifled by Mġarr’s well-organised defence and swift transitions. Mġarr’s counterattacks, led by the energetic Villegas sisters, proved to be a constant threat. Yulya Carella came inches away from doubling the lead when her fierce strike rattled the crossbar, while Alejandra Villegas narrowly missed the target following another sharp break.
The pressure paid off just before half-time. A misplaced pass from Hibernians defender Natalee Geren was quickly intercepted by Alejandra Villegas, who unselfishly squared the ball to her sister Valeria. The striker made no mistake, calmly slotting the ball into the bottom corner to give Mġarr a two-goal cushion heading into the interval.
Early in the second half, Mġarr had a golden opportunity to seal the result. Maria Hernandez was brought down in the box by Harrington, winning a penalty. Yulya Carella stepped up, but her attempt was saved, and her rebound effort clipped the crossbar, allowing Hibernians to stay in the contest.
Despite some second-half pressure from the Paolites—most notably two chances for Alexis Espitia—Mġarr’s disciplined defending and goalkeeper Giulia D’Antuono’s assured presence ensured they kept a clean sheet.
At the final whistle, celebrations erupted among Mġarr players and supporters. Malta FA General Secretary Dr Maria Azzopardi and Andrew Grech, Managing Director of Assikura Insurance Brokers PLC, presented the medals and trophy. Captain Abigail Camilleri proudly lifted the silverware, cementing a memorable moment for Mġarr United and highlighting the impact of their Colombian connection on Malta’s women’s football stage.
