Swieqi United secured their first points at the expense of one of last year’s Top Four sides, beating Mġarr United on Saturday in the Assikura Women’s League First Division.
Ghana forward Salamatu Abdulai scored the all-important winner on the 70th minute.
The Owls are now third on 15 points while Mġarr remain fourth on 12, trailing leaders Hibernians by seven.
Leaders Hibernians continued their winning form, hitting Lija Athletic for eight.
The Paolites drew first blood early in the game through Joelma with Leah Ayres and Martina Borg extending the lead to three goals before half-time.
After the break, Borg added another one, Rodianne Zerafa picked one herself while Alexis Espitia grabbed a brace.
Hibernians lead with 19 points, Lija Athletic are on six points.
Birkirkara registered their second consecutive win after hitting Mtarfa for six.
The Stripes made sure of the win with a five-goal first half performance.
Brazilian duo Erica Bispo scored a brace while Luana Cabral netted a hat-trick.
After the break, youth player Maia Gauci wrapped up the win with the sixth goal.
San Ġwann and Valletta shared the spoils in an intriguing encounter between last season’s best two teams in the Bottom Four.
Hailey Russell continued her impressive scoring form, earning a point for San Ġwann after Marcelle Oliveira had put the Citizens ahead.
San Ġwann are on seven points, Valletta on five.
SWIEQI UNITED 1-0 MĠARR UNITED
Salamatu Abdulai 70.
SWIEQI UNITED
P. Araujo; S. Urpani, J. Flask (57 E. Micallef), S. Abdulai, K. Abdulai, S. Zammit, Rafanny, J. Schembri, T. Falzon, M. Cachia.
Coach: Dorianne Theuma.
MĠARR UNITED
P. Ebejer; A. Camilleri, M. Debono, V. Mifsud, Y. Carella, L. Cefai, V. Villegas, Y. Mendez, R. Bajada, B. Borg, A. Grech (76 R. Borg).
Coach: Ryan Vella.
LIJA ATHLETIC 0-8 HIBERNIANS
Joelma 7; Leah Ayres 19, 66; Martina Borg 43, 88; Rodianne Zerafa 70; Alexis Espitia 75, 86.
LIJA ATHLETIC
C. Pisani; S. Bouzid, M. Stagno, N. Zarb Cousin, S. Bugeja, E. Marmara, K. Pantalleresco, I. Sanchez, R. Mifsud, M. Ibrahim, C. Deguara.
Coach: Jethron Azzopardi.
HIBERNIANS
E. Harrington (75 M. Muscat); N. Geren, C. Ellul, A. Galea (68 F. Zahra), A. Busuttil, K. Chetcuti, M. Borg, Y. Attard (52 R. Zerafa), L. Ayres (68 M. Camilleri), N. Sciberras, Joelma (52 A. Espitia).
Coach: Kenneth Costantino.
BIRKIRKARA 6-0 MTARFA
Erica Bispo 6, 20; Luana Cabral 13, 25, 38; Maia Gauci 58.
BIRKIRKARA
M. Cachia; G. Zahra (46 L. May Azzopardi), M. Fenech, Y. Hazekawa, F. Chircop, L. Cabral (46 R. Steer-Chetham), I. Camilleri, R. Giusti, V. Rapa (46 S. Francalanza), M. Cardona (46 M. Gauci), E. Bispo (46 C. Schechinger).
Coach: Vince Galea.
MTARFA
D. Grech; C. Versteegh, E. Azzopardi, S. Ghigo, N. Espinel, E. Csik, D. Alvarez, M. Abdilla, K. Ciappara, P. Ciappara, R. Zammit.
Coach: Gaetano Papaleo.
Referee: Jake Farrugia.
SAN ĠWANN 1-1 VALLETTA
Hailey Russell 47 (S); Marcelle Oliveira 4 (V).
SAN ĠWANN
J. Caruana; A. Rapa, N. Kobayashi, M. Schembri, H. Russell, T. Chaimaa, O. Mhalli, S. Gheiti (64 N. Attard), N. Blundell (72 F. Al Girbi), K. Vella, J. Falzon.
Coach: Julian Camilleri.
VALLETTA
G. Grima; A. Aloisio, E. Martins, M. Oliveira, M. Sultana, L. Muscat (56 M. La Rosa), S. Farrugia Sacco (76 A. Mifsud), Y. Grech, E. Micallef (76 S. Fenech), S. Blihi, L. Vella.
Coach: Jean Lopes.
Referee: Matteo Falzon.
