Cabfix Ladies may have bowed out of the Women’s FA Cup, but they left their mark by ending Jonina Ladies’ remarkable clean-sheet run this season, as Jonina edged a 2–1 victory in their Round of 32 local derby at the Auntie-Aku AstroTurf.
Although Cabfix were officially the home side, the encounter carried a derby feel, with both teams sharing the same venue. Jonina Ladies entered the match in fine form, having gone six games without conceding in the Malta Guinness Women’s Premier League and recording a 2–0 win over Faith Ladies in the Round of 64 of the FA Cup.
Cabfix, however, came into the fixture full of confidence after upsetting Oak Ladies 1–0 in the previous round, a result that underlined their ability to compete against top-flight opposition.
Jonina struck first in the 10th minute to take control of the contest, but Cabfix responded with resilience and determination. Their pressure paid off just before halftime, as they found the equaliser in the 43rd minute to make it 1–1 at the break, a historic goal that marked the first time Jonina had conceded in all competitions this season.
The second half saw Jonina reassert their dominance, and their quality eventually told when they grabbed the decisive goal in the 58th minute to seal a 2–1 win and book their place in the next round.
While Jonina’s defensive record in the Women’s Premier League remains intact, Cabfix Ladies earned plaudits for their spirited performance, becoming the first side to breach Jonina’s defence this season and pushing one of the league’s most disciplined teams all the way in a fiercely contested FA Cup tie.
