Penalty Shoot Out condemns Birkirkara's Women Team

by Ayrton Galea - 11th September 2012

Yesterday evening, Birkirkara's Women Team lost the second consecutive final by means of a penalty shoot-out against Mosta.

It was a very tight match as both sides did not leave an inch of space for their opponents and this made it hard to conclude. However, both teams had their good patches where they could have opened the score and as time went by, it was Birkirkara who were the most adventurous, side and tried to push forward for the first goal.

One could consider this defeat for Birkirkara as a very unlucky one, as they surely did not deserve to lose, but once again a penalty shoot was fatal for 'The Stripes'.

This was the third consecutive win for Mosta over Birkirkara in a final as they notched last year's Super Cup, then the Knock-Out Trophy, and yesterday's Super Cup. With this win, Mosta registered their third Super Cup in their history, one less than Birkirkara who had won it four times.

Last season, Birkirkara also lost the Super Cup in the beginning of the season but then they managed to bounce back in style by winning the Women's League unbeaten.

The First Half

A long distance shot by Gabriella Zahra on the 1st minute was saved by the goalkeeper Costantino. Mosta were quick to reply and one minute later a fine lob inside the box ended over the bar.

Mosta were close to opening the score when off a corner from the right, a powerful header was well saved by the goalkeeper Xuereb.

A long distance free-kick for Mosta on the 12th minute was saved by Xuereb. Birkirkara replied with a first time effort by Martina Cilia on the 16th minute ending over the bar.

Mosta's Oriana Bedingfield could have easily put Mosta ahead after she stole a ball from Stephania Farrugia. In a one-against-one with Xuereb, the latter made a fine save from close range on the 20th minute.

A long distance shot by Rachel Cuschieri almost surprised the goalkeeper Costantino but the ball ended wide by inches on the 21st minute.

Birkirkara almost took the lead on the 26th minute when following a perfect corner by Rachel Cuschieri, Stephania Farrugia anticipated the goalkeeper but her header somehow ended wide.

A shot from outside the box by Kelly Agius Pace on the 33rd minute was saved by the goalkeeper.

Kim Parnis tried a long distance shot on the 35th minute which ended wide.

Martina Cilia tried a diagonal shot on the 41st minute which ended wide by inches. On the other side of the pitch, Mosta replied with a fine shot on the 43rd minute which Janice Xuereb saved well.

The balanced first half ended in a goal less draw.

The Second Half

Birkirkara made a fine action on the 47th minute when following a good pass, Kelly Agius Pace had her fine shot saved by the goalkeeper.

A powerful shot by Rachel Cuschieri after being served by Kelly Agius Pace ended wide on the 68th minute.

In the first substitution for Birkirkara, Martina Cilia was replaced with Alishia Sultana on the 70th minute.

Catherine Camilleri for Mosta on the 73rd minute collected a yellow card following a hands-ball. From the resulting free-kick, Rachel Cuschieri's effort ended a bit wide.

A shot by Oriana Bedingfield on the 76th minute was saved by Xuereb. Birkirkara replied with a long distance shot by Kim Parnis on the 78th minute ending over Costantino's post.

Kim Parnis collected a yellow card ten minutes from time, following a tough challenge. The referee deemed it as a foul, while for those present, Kim took the ball cleanly.

Rachel Cuschieri tried her luck with a long distance shot on the 89th minute but the goalkeeper saved in two attempts. Another shot by Rachel Cuschieri ended wide on the 91st minute.

With both teams not leaving any space in the first ninety minutes, extra time had to follow.

Extra Time

Rachel Cuschieri had a fine solo action just before the end of the first half concluded with a fine shot which the goalkeeper saved well.

Rachel Cuschieri made another fine action exactly at the beginning of the second half when after rounding three players, her shot ended over. Another shot by Cuschieri on the 17th minute ended wide after being served by Gabriella Zahra.

A long distance shot by Chantal Fenech was saved by the goalkeeper on the 23rd minute.

In the second, third and fourth substitution for Birkirkara, Alishia Sultana, Maryrose Cardona and Yasmeen Vella were replaced with Raina Giusti, Simone Buttigieg and Sacha Camilleri on the 29th minute

Despite Birkirkara putting everything forward, Mosta kept strong and a penalty shoot out had to decide the winner.

Penalty Shoot Out

Rachel Cuschieri took the first penalty, and the intelligent midfielder converted into a goal. Dorianne Theuma for Mosta was quick to reply and scored her penalty kick as well.

Gabriella Zahra took the second penalty for Birkirkara with a powerfully shot and slotted home. Annemarie for Mosta replied by scoring their second penalty as well, with Janice Xuereb being unlucky not to save.

Chantal Fenech saw her penalty, the third one for Birkirkara, being saved by the goalkeeper. Nicole Buttigieg for Mosta converted and put Mosta ahead.

Stephania Farrugia under pressure went for the fourth penalty and her effort beat the goalkeeper. For Mosta, former Birkirkara player Jade Flash, had her shot ending wide past the right post.

In the fifth and last set of penalties, Kim Parnis saw her shot ending wide. Mosta converted their fifth and last penalty thanks to Rebecca D'Agostina to win their second consecutive Super Cup and the fourth one in their history.

At the end of the match, Captain Chantal Fenech was presented with the Runner up's Trophy by Maria Agius, who then presented Mosta's captain Rebecca D'Agostina the Super Cup.

Birkirkara will be involved in the first match of the league on the 25th September against Hamrun Spartans while on the 9th October they will face Mosta for the second time in a month's time.

BIRKIRKARA: Janice Xuereb, Kirsty Vella, Yasmeen Vella (119' Sacha Camilleri), Stephania Farrugia, Maryrose Cardona (119' Simone Buttigieg), Chantal Fenech, Kim Parnis, Gabriella Zahra, Martina Cilia (70' Alishia Sultana. 119' Raina Giusti), Rachel Cuschieri, Kelly Agius Pace.

MOSTA:Sharon Costantino, Oriana Bedingfield, Catherine Camilleri, Rebecca D'Agostino, Yanika Fenech, Jade Flask, Annemarie Muscat, Rachel Nolian, Natasha Pace, Dorianne Theuma, Shona Zammit.

Yellow Cards:Martina Cilia, Chantal Fenech, Kim Parnis (Birkirkara), Catherine Camilleri (Mosta).

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