St George’s were crowned national women’s beach soccer champions after a nail-biting 4-3 victory over Swieqi United, decided by penalties following a tightly contested final at Pretty Bay.
The match saw both teams display solid defensive organisation, limiting scoring chances and keeping the game scoreless through the first half. Swieqi eventually broke the deadlock thanks to Michela Felice, who took advantage of a defensive lapse to slot the ball past St George’s goalkeeper Filothey Fey.
As the match edged towards a Swieqi win, St George’s struck back late. Awarded a free kick in a dangerous position, Edera Marmara stepped up and converted with composure to draw the game level.
With neither team able to score during the three-minute extra time, the championship was decided by a penalty shootout. St George’s showed resilience under pressure, with Kirsty Paris, Shakira Bugeja, and Cherise Zammit all converting their penalties. Despite misses from Marmara and Jeanelle Falzon, it was enough to seal the title.
Swieqi United’s Samantha Zarb and Amy Abdilla were successful from the spot, but Krista Montfort, Mari Oliveira, and Michela Felice were all denied, handing St George’s a memorable and hard-fought victory
Sports Editor
Veteran Journalist
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