A dramatic ending decided the Malta FA Women’s Jubilee Cup final as Mġarr United overturned a one-goal second-half deficit to clinch victory in stoppage time.
The Greens had opened the scoring through Valeria Villegas, but Hibernians responded strongly after the break, turning the match on its head to make it 2-1.
However, Mġarr struck twice late in the game as Hibernians collapsed defensively, sealing the Greens’ second major trophy in the women’s game.
Both coaches – Martina Borg for Hibernians and Ryan Vella for Mġarr – fielded their strongest starting XIs.
For the Paolites, captained by Nicole Sciberras, Uganda’s Sylivia Kabene led the line, arriving with six league goals.
Mġarr, captained by Abigail Camilleri, started French forward Josline N’Guessan, their top scorer with seven goals.
Mġarr threatened early on. Villegas saw one effort blocked by Maya Cachia for a corner, before her close-range header was denied by the Hibernians goalkeeper. Moments later, her sister Alejandra Villegas attempted a long-range strike that drifted wide.
Kabene replied for Hibernians with a close-range effort that flew over the bar. As the half progressed, chances became scarce, though Mġarr continued to look dangerous in transition despite not testing Cachia further.
It was the Greens who broke the deadlock when Villegas met a clever overhead kick cross from Yulya Carella, beating both Cachia and Cali Schechinger to the ball.
Mġarr carried their 1-0 lead into halftime.
Hibernians made a change at the break, introducing Kayleigh Chetcuti for Ileana Farrugia on the left flank.
The Paolites’ halftime team talk paid immediate dividends. Captain Sciberras levelled the match with a brilliant lob over goalkeeper Patricia Ebejer.
Moments later, Mġarr nearly regained the lead through N’Guessan, but her close-range effort was blocked by Cachia. At the other end, Zulu headed wide from close range.
On 55 minutes, Kabene squandered a golden opportunity to put Hibernians ahead, sending her effort wide when clean through on goal.
Villegas then went close again with a tight-angle shot that flashed just wide of Cachia’s far post.
Twenty minutes from time, Mġarr introduced Brenda Borg in place of N’Guessan as they pushed for fresh energy in midfield.
As the tempo slowed, clear chances dried up – until a moment of brilliance from Chetcuti, who fired a long-range shot to put Hibernians 2-1 ahead.
But Mġarr responded immediately. Alejandra Villegas struck a low drive past Cachia to restore parity.
Deep into stoppage time, Mġarr completed the turnaround. Valeria Villegas scored her second of the afternoon with another precise low finish, sealing a memorable comeback victory and the Jubilee Cup for her team.
Hibernians
M. Cachia; N. Geren, C. Schechinger, A. Galea (90 F. Bartolo), J. Dimech, C. Zulu, G. Mifsud, L. Ayres (62 S. Vella Barberi), N. Sciberras, S. Kabene (86 K. Chetcuti), I. Farrugia (46 K. Chetchuti).
Mġarr
Ebejer; A. Camilleri, A. Villegas, M. Debono, Y. Carella, L. Cefai, V. Villegas, Y. Mendez, R. Bajada, J. N’Guessan (70 B. Borg), A. Grech.
Referee: Jo-Anna Vassallo.
Source: MFA
Photo: MFA
