Women's team reach Knock-Out Semi-Final

by Ayrton Galea - 20th May 2013

Champions Birkirkara booked a place in the semi final of the Women's Knock-Out as Isabelle Mazzitelli's header mid-way through the second half was enough for the Stripes to overcome resistant Pembroke Athletha.

Birkirkara's evening turned to be a frustrating one as the Stripes could not find the opening goal despite dominating for long stretches. However, when pressure began to pile-up, the decisive player of last Tuesday's match, Isabelle Mazzitelli came once again to the rescue to score another decisive goal.

The Stripes were once again a depleted side as Maryrose Cardona, Kelly Agius Pace and Stephania Farrugia were still suspended. However, availability of players for the Stripes took another twist to the worse for this match as despite being on the bench, Rachel Cuschieri and Yasmeen Vella were injured and were not able to play. Raina Giusti and Sacha Camilleri were given the green-light in the starting eleven for this match.

To make things even worse, Gabriella Zahra, who was not in the best condition before the match, sustained an injury during the match but she still managed to make it till the last whistle of the match.

Morale sky-high after beating Mosta last week to clinch the second consecutive championship with a dramatic goal three minutes on time, Birkirkara came out as the most aggressive side for this match, although Pembroke were well-organised especially at the back and made life hard for the Stripes.

Having come out on fire for this match, as they knew that an early goal would be essential in their target of grabbing the qualification, the Stripes did not take long to settle down as they began to threaten to surge ahead, but Pembroke were showing great signs of defensive football which denied The Stripes time after time.

The Stripes were playing good football, despite lack of good finishing, and the first half ended goal-less. However, when in the second half, a sense of urgency was being felt, the Stripes surges ahead, thanks to Isabelle Mazzitelli scoring another decisive goal to confirm her potential.

The First Half

Birkirkara were playing aggressive football in the opening minutes.

The Stripes went close first on the fourth minute. Gabriella Zahra won a ball in the midfield, before serving Sacha Camilleri on the run who anticipated the goalkeeper, but her touch was too long and the ball ended in a goal kick for Pembroke.

On the fifteenth minute, Kelly Groves tried her luck with a long distance shot which ended wide. Two minutes later, Groves was in action once again, connecting well off a corner by Raina Giusti, however, her attempt was saved by the goalkeeper Rose Maria Baldacchino.

On the 20th minute, Raina Giusti and Simone Buttigieg performed a good action playing a short corner with Buttigieg trying her luck with a low shot parried by the goalkeeper.

Birkirkara were playing better football, but despite their superiority they were finding it difficult to be of serious danger to Pembroke, who were showing great resilience.

Sacha Camilleri sent a stylish cross on the 25 minutes but goalkeeper Baldacchino came out to save before Isabelle Mazzitelli could reach.

On the half-hour mark, Kim Parnis sent a diagonal freekick from the left but Gabriella Zahra headed wide from an ideal position.

Birkirkara created the most dangerous opportunity on the 35 minutes when Charlene Schembri who was having a fine match, unleashed a fierce shot which surprised goalkeeper Baldacchino but her effort scratched past the cross-bar.

The eagerness for the opening goal by the Stripes persisted, as eight minutes from the end of the first half, Isabelle Mazzitelli rounded a player before her shot was saved by the goalkeeper .

Birkirkara continued to make their utmost efforts to surge ahead in the few remaining minutes of the first half. On the 40 minutes, Kim Parnis tried her luck with a long distance shot with goalkeeper Baldacchino saving in two attempts, denying Sacha Camilleri to take the rebound.

Raina Giusti created havoc for the Pembroke's defenders on the 41 minutes as she rounded two players before advancing in the area but her shot was parried by the goalkeeper.

In the last action of the first half, Raina was in action once again when she tried her luck with a shot which was once again saved by the goalkeeper without any particular difficulty.

The first half ended with the Stripes showing clear signs of superiority as they created several scoring chances, however the half-time score was still goal-less.

The Second Half

Having witnessed and understood Pembroke's bold defensive display so far, the Stripes knew that they had to increase their tempo in order to score in the second half.

Birkirkara started strongly as they went close with Raina Giusti who had a fine shot blocked by the goalkeeper and off the rebound, Sacha Camilleri saw her rebound saved as well.

Birkirkara's aggressive opening in the second half did not surprise Pembroke as they remained compact at the back, and they were more focused on not conceding a goal rather than creating their scoring opportunities.

Kim Parnis fired a ferocious free-kick from almost half-pitch on the 55 minutes, which goalkeeper Rose Maria Baldacchino saved with difficulty. Five minutes later, it was Sacha Camilleri's turn to try her luck but her shot was also parried the goalkeeper.

On the 63rd minute, Birkirkara went close once again as Raina Giusti sent a dangerous corner with Kim Parnis rising over everybody to head the ball well but her effort was saved by the goalkeeper.

Just two minutes later, Kelly Groves performed a fine action, which she concluded with a powerful shot that ended wide.

Birkirkara were showing signs of improvement but on the 65th minute they were denied from taking a deserved lead. Isabelle Mazzitelli was in the right place to make an attempt on goal which beat the goalkeeper but her effort was cleared off the goal-line.

However, Birkirkara's goal was in the air and on the 70th minute, the Stripes took the lead. Off a perfect cross from the left by Raina Giusti, Isabelle Mazzitelli anticipated the goalkeeper with a fine header to put the Stripes ahead.

Finally, the Stripes could take a deep breathe after being rewarded for their efforts by surging ahead twenty minutes from time.

However, Pembroke's resilience increased and they reacted quickly by creating their best scoring opportunity which could have earned them the equaliser.

Following a free-kick in Birkirkara's own half, a defensive-blunder found Martina Borg in an ideal position and she could have concluded better, but her low shot was easily saved by goalkeeper Janice Xuereb in her first and only time in action in the game.

Ten minutes from time, Kelly Groves had a powerful shot on target saved by goalkeeper Baldacchino in two attempts. A few minutes later, Kim Parnis had a powerful direct freekick from outside the box which ended over.

In the first substitution for Birkirkara on the 84 minutes, forward Kim Simler replaced Sacha Camilleri.

Kim Simler quickly left her mark as in her first touch, the youngster tried her luck with a fine shot from outside the box which was saved by the goalkeeper.

On the 90 minutes, coach Scicluna utilised his second substitution as he included defender Alexia Scicluna to replace the offensive midfielder Raina Giusti.

With both teams failing to create any notable action in the three minutes added by the referee, the full time whistle found Birkirkara earning qualification for the semi final of the Women's Knock-Out where they will face Tarxien Rainbows.

BIRKIRKARA: Janice Xuereb, Raina Giusti (90' Alexia Scicluna), Kirstie Vella, Kim Parnis, Gabriella Zahra, Alishia Sultana, Sacha Camilleri (84' Kim Simler), Charlene Schembri, Kelly Groves, Simone Buttigieg, Isabelle Mazzitelli.

PEMBROKE: Rose Maria Baldacchino, Sarah Cassar, Monique Sultana, Annabelle Rapa, Otilla Debattista, Amber Grech, Martina Borg, Cassandra Camilleri, Siona Schembri, Sarah Caruana, Theresa Scicluna.

Scorers: 70' Isabelle Mazzitelli.

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