High flying Stripes move first

by Ayrton Galea - 26th March 2013

High flying Birkirkara continued to show their true potential as they kept improving their form when in a one-sided match, they outclassed Gozo with a 6-0 score. The Stripes are now joint-leaders of the BOV Women's First Division League, together with Mosta. Mosta were defeated by Hibernians with the winning goal arriving mid-way in the second half thanks to a penalty.

Coming from five consecutive victories, the Stripes' morale was sky-high and this certainly boosted the players' confidence and they showed their class, despite the strong winds.

Showing their intentions right from the first whistle, Birkirkara surged ahead after just two minutes which paved the way for another doze of confidence as they went ahead to score a total of six goals, in perfect timing before facing Mosta in two weeks time.

Birkirkara fielded their usual 3-5-2 formation with Mr. Johann Scicluna making two changes from the last match against Hibernians, as Rachel Cuschieri replaced Raina Giusti and Alishia Sultana replaced Kelly Agius Pace.

Gozo who were coming from a humbling 7-0 defeat against Mosta were once again shown no mercy from their opponents as the Stripes confidently scored one goal after another. The Stripes took total control of the match, and most of the credit goes to their perfect positioning in the pitch, which rarely left Gozo with any space to adopt their match.

The First Half

After just two minutes, the Stripes surged ahead. Following a short clearance, the ball fell into Gabriella Zahra's feet whose first time shot gave the Gozo goalkeeper no chance and put Birkirkara ahead at an early stage.

This goal gave a priceless advantage to the Stripes, and they never looked back, despite the strong winds, with clear instructions given by both sets of coaches to play the ball on the ground.

Birkirkara were comfortably controlling the match and they remained superior to their opponents. On the 16th minute, youngster Simone Buttigieg made an intelligent run down the right flank before sending a deadly low-cross which was anticipated by the goalkeeper before Isabelle Mazzitelli could connect.

Gozo, who by time began to settle down a bit, and were trying to impose their game, had their first attempt on target on the 18th minute, from a shot from outside the box but Janice Xuereb easily neutralised the attempt.

Birkirkara's reply was quick as just two minutes later Gabriella Zahra had a first time attempt saved by the goalkeeper.

On the 23rd minute, Birkirkara went close to double the lead when Isabelle Mazzitelli connected well with a powerful shot which scratched past Gozo's right post to end in a goal kick. Three minutes later, Rachel Cuschieri rounded a player before her long distance shot was saved by the goalkeeper.

However, the Stripes' pressure was too much for the Gozitans and they conceded a second goal on the 27th minute. Rachel Cuschieri, who had already tried her luck with a long distance attempt just a minute before, this time had better luck, as her powerful shot surprised the goalkeeper to put Birkirkara in a two-goal lead.

With Birkirkara two goals-up and in no mood to relax, Gozo seemed to be lacking from inspiration and energy. Their match took another twist to the worse as Birkirkara made them three on the 39th minute.

Gabriella Zahra showed great vision by sending a perfect through pass to Isabelle Mazzitelli who from an ideal position made no mistake and beat the goalkeeper to score the third goal of the match.

Birkirkara continued to show their best, with the referee's half-time whistle finding the Stripes in a comfortable three goal advantage.

The Second Half

Just before the kick-off of the second half, Kelly Agius Pace replaced Alishia Sultana.

In the first action of the first half, on the 55 minutes, Rachel Cuschieri had a direct free-kick on goal from an ideal position which ended over.

However, the National player was not denied on the 57 minutes as once again she managed to surprise the goalkeeper with a long-range powerful shot which made them four for the Stripes.

Birkirkara scored their fifth goal in quick succession just three minutes later. Following a low cross by Rachel Cuschieri, Simone Buttigieg failed to hit but the ball, which ended in Gabriella's feet who had her first shot blocked by the goalkeeper. From the rebound the same player scored her brace and the fifth one for the Stripes.

Gabriella almost scored her hat-trick goal on the 63 minutes when she dribbled two players in style and beat the goalkeeper with a fine header but was unlucky to see her effort hitting the post and ending in a goal kick.

Rachel Cuschieri was substituted by Raina Giusti on the 66 minutes, applauded by her team-mates following her performance which continued to improve after suffering an injury earlier on in the season.

Four minutes later, in Birkirkara's third substitution, Kelly Groves replaced Maryrose Cardona who also had a good match, managing to neutralise comfortably Gozo's promising player Emma Xuereb.

Birkirkara rounded off an amazing performance by adding another goal as fifteen minutes from the end, they made them six. Substitute Kelly Agius Pace made a fine run before her shot beat the goalkeeper and was deflected into the goal by a Gozo defender.

Three minutes later, the Stripes threatened for the seventh goal when Isabelle Mazzitelli had a powerful volley which was saved well by the goalkeeper.

On the 80th minute, Sacha Camilleri replaced Simone Buttigieg in Birkirkara's last substitution. A deserved applause waited Buttigieg who had an improved performance from the last match who was a continuous threat thanks to her pressing in the offensive department.

Just before the full time whistle, Kelly Groves served Raina Giusti whose powerful shot was turned into a corner.

BIRKIRKARA: Janice Xuereb, Yasmeen Vella, Stephania Farrugia, Kirstie Vella, Kim Parnis, Gabriella Zahra, Maryrose Cardona (71' Kelly Groves), Rachel Cuschieri (66' Raina Giusti), Isabelle Mazzitelli, Simone Buttigieg (80' Sacha Camilleri), Alishia Sultana (45' Kelly Agius Pace).

Scorers: 2' Gabriella Zahra, 27' Rachel Cuschieri, 39' Isabelle Mazzitelli, 57' Rachel Cuschieri, 60' Gabriella Zahra, 75' Kelly Agius Pace.

comments powered by Disqus