Under-16's Girls too strong for Hibernians

by Ayrton Galea - 1st December 2013

Birkirkara Girls Under-16's gave a dazzling performance which was too much for Hibernians, and they won their second consecutive game, this time with a score of 4-0.

Both sides have several promising players and the expectations were of a balanced match, but the Stripes had other ideas, as they edged out Hibernians who failed to make any sort of reaction.

Birkirkara went for this match with Alexia Galea, Julia Micallef and Tara Attard missing. However, the team rose to the occasion and demolished the Paolites.

Raina Giusti repaid Coach Mr. Johann Scicluna's trust in her abilities, as the team's captain not only gave an excellent performance but also managed to net a hat-trick.

Also, Sarah Urpani and Michela Felice were given the green light to start the match for the first yime, and they both gave a very satisfying performance.

The First Half

Hardly a minute passed when Birkirkara created their first scoring opportunity. Raina Giusti made a surging run on the right flank before delivering a low cross which was not hit by an player.

On the third minute, Raina Giusti served Alishia Sultana, who had a fine solo-action concluded with a powerful drive from diagonal angle, which was parried by goalkeeper Keoney Demicoli.

Just seconds later, Hibernians went close with a dangerous low cross which found a Hibernians player unmarked, but she failed to hit the ball, when she was all alone against goalkeeper Jennifer Galea.

Mariah Sciberras had a central long-distance free-kick easily parried by goalkeeper Demicoli on the seventh minute. A minute later, Michela Felice also had a shot saved by the Hibernians goalkeeper.

Birkirkara had a good opportunity on the tenth minute when Raina Giusti performed a solo-action but her final shot, from a diagonal position, ended over.

Hibernians were quick to reply seconds later with a low shot by Danica Borg which was easily parried by the Birkirkara goalkeeper, Jennifer Galea.

The Stripes surged ahead on the fifteenth minute mark. Captain Raina Giusti made an excellent surging run on the right flank which she concluded by flicking the ball past goalkeeper Demicoli.

Birkirkara could have doubled the lead just a minute later, as an onrushing Demicoli made a defensive blunder with Sarah Urpani concluding wide from distance.

Raina Giusti could have scored her second personal goal with a powerful shot from inside the box but goalkeeper Demicoli made an excellent save.

Birkirkara goalkeeper Jennifer Galea came out excellently, and she denied a Hibernians player in a one-versus-one situation, on the twenty-second minute.

The first half saw Raina Giusti's goal seperating both sides as the Stripes were leading with a narrow one-goal lead.

The Second Half

The heavy rain that hit the Maltese islands characterised the second twenty-five minutes as the weather effected the level of the match.

In the first scoring opportunity of the second half, Raina Giusti concluded wide, from a throw-in by Alishia Sultana.

Four minutes in the second-half, Raina drifted inside the middle of the field, following a surging run on the left, but she saw her powerful shot blocked by a defender.

Raina Giusti had a powerful long-distance free-kick turned into a corner kick, thanks to an excellent save by Keoney Demicoli.

From the resulting corner kick, the Stripes doubled the lead on the thirty-second minute. Off a corner by Raina Giusti, Sarah Urpani connected well, with the ball being deflected by the Hibernians defender to end in the net.

Raina Giusti had a powerful volley ending over on the thirty-fifth minute.

In the first substitution for Birkirkara, ten minutes in the second half, Sarah Urpani was replaced with Samantha Zarb.

The Stripes increased the lead with the third goal on the thirty-sixth minute. Raina Giusti concluded brilliantly an action from the left after being served by Samantha.

Ten minutes from the end, three almost became four, as Raina Giusti had a ferocious drive scratching past the right post.

In the second and last substitution for Birkirkara, on the forty-first minute, Mireille Bellizzi was replaced with Maria Fenech.

On the forty-second minute, Raina Giusti served substitute Maria who saw her shot parried by Demicoli.

One minute from time, Birkirkara sealed the issue with the fourth goal. Raina Giusti rounded off her superb performance by beating goalkeeper Demicoli with a low shot, to conclude her hat-trick.

The referee's full time whistle found Birkirkara notching their second consecutive victory thanks to an excellent performance.

BIRKIRKARA: Jennifer Galea, Alishia Sultana, Mariah Sciberras, Mireille Bellizzi (45' Maria Fenech), Raina Giusti, Sarah Urpani (40' Samantha Zarb), Michela Felice.

HIBERNIANS: Keoney Demicoli, Rebecca Calleja, Kayleigh Chetcuti, Mirea Ellul, Amber Brincat, Danica Borg, Nicole Borg.

Scorers: 15' Raina Giusti, 32' Sarah Urpani, 36' Raina Giusti, 49' Raina Giusti.

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