Mġarr United Women enjoyed a European debut to remember after securing a commanding 4-0 victory over Estonia’s Flora.
The Maltese champions produced a strong second-half performance, with new signing Carlyn Presley scoring a hat-trick on her first appearance for the club.
An own goal completed the scoring as Mġarr booked their place in Saturday’s qualifying final, where they will face tournament hosts Spartak Myjava of Slovakia.
A historic occasion for Mġarr
The match represented another major milestone for Mġarr following their memorable 2025/2026 domestic campaign.
Ryan Vella’s side completed a historic treble by winning the Assikura Women’s League, the Assikura Women’s Knockout and the MFA Jubilee Cup.
Their victory over Flora also made them the third Maltese women’s side to win a match in this European competition, following Birkirkara and Swieqi United.
Mġarr create the better chances
Head coach Ryan Vella selected the core of last season’s title-winning squad, with Presley making her debut on the left wing in Mġarr’s preferred 4-2-3-1 formation.
Giulia D’Antuono started in goal, with captain Abigail Camilleri leading the defence alongside Yanina Mendez, Leanne Cefai and Alejandra Villegas.
Rebecca Bajada was unavailable due to injury.
Amber Grech and Maia Debono formed the midfield partnership, while Presley joined Veronique Mifsud, Yulya Carella and Valeria Villegas in attack.
Mġarr were the stronger team during the opening half and created several promising opportunities. They registered six attempts compared to Flora’s three but could not find the opening goal before the break.
Presley takes centre stage
The Greens returned for the second half with greater intensity and were soon rewarded.
Valeria Villegas created the opening for Presley, who kept her composure and placed a low effort into the bottom corner in the 51st minute.
Presley struck again eight minutes later after taking advantage of a mistake in the Flora defence.
Mġarr continued to apply pressure, and their third goal arrived in the 70th minute when Flora’s Tullus turned the ball into her own net.
Presley completed her hat-trick in the final moments of the match, sealing an emphatic 4-0 victory and an unforgettable debut.
Qualifying final against Spartak Myjava
Mġarr will now face Slovak hosts Spartak Myjava in Saturday’s qualifying final.
The Slovak side will be familiar to followers of Maltese women’s football, having eliminated Swieqi United at the same stage of the competition last year.
Mġarr will enter the match with confidence following an excellent opening performance and another important result for Maltese women’s football.
