Birkirkara women start title quest with Swieqi victory

Defending champions Birkirkara started their title quest with a 2-0 win over challengers Swieqi United in the opening week of the 2020/2021 Women's League. The Stripes are chasing a fifth straight domestic championship title and they could not ask for a better start to this campaign beating one of their main rivals. Birkirkara coach Melania Bajada handed a debut to Canadian forward Christabel Oppong for this game. Swieqi, on their part, had Doriane Theuma as their captain with fellow national team player Shona Zammit deployed from the start after joining the Oranges following her Serie A spell with Pink Bari last season.  After a goalless stalemate in the first 45 minutes, Birkirkara managed to draw first blood early after the break when skipper Stephania Farrugia converted from the penalty spot.  The Stripes made sure of their victory through a long-range free-kick from Tracy Teuma who stunned Swieqi custodian Vesna Vitanova and doubled the lead for Birkirkara.  Meanwhile, Mġarr United and Kirkop United also chalked up a win on their opening commitment of this year's campaign.  The Greens eased past Mosta 8-1 with captain Brenda Borg netting four goals. Francesca Chircop and Amber Grech added two goals each to seal the three points for Mġarr.  For this game, Mġarr had former Malta international Antoinette Sammut returning to their ranks.  On the other side, Mosta deployed a very youthful squad for this game with six players in their starting eleven born between the year 2000 and 2005. They also had Macedonian duo Dijana Hristovska and Simona Krstanoska in their formation from the start as well.   Elsewhere, Kirkop handed a 6-1 defeat to newcomers Mtarfa with new signing Rodianne Zerafa scoring four goals. Sarah Urpani, who last year was at the Reds on loan, added two more goals to wrap up the win. Lorna Cassar, last season on the books of Hibernians, scored Mtarfa's solitary goal.  Images copyright by Stephen Gatt