Classy Stripes extend excellent start in Women's League

by Ayrton Galea - 12th November 2014

Birkirkara FC Women's Team maintained their perfect start in the BOV Women's First Division League as on Tuesday evening, they gave another solid performance to defeat Mgarr United FC with a result of 2-0, to remain the only team with maximum points.

The previous two matches might have showed the unbalanced side of this year's league format, but yesterday's match produced the bright side of Women's football, as it was a high-tempo match, where both sides battled for every ball, in one of best matches of this year's league campaign.

It was a match that saw Birkirkara superior for long stretches. In the first half, the Stripes enjoyed large swaths of possession but they rarely had any scoring opportunity. In the second half, they continued to improve and created a bigger numbers of scoring opportunities, to emerge as winners with the precious three points

Birkirkara's Coach, Mr. Johann Scicluna, fielded a 4-1-3-2 formation, featuring a diamond midfield, something quite rare in Women's Team. He made no less than five changes in his first-eleven selection, as goalkeeper Janice Xuereb, Stephania Farrugia, Yasmeen Vella, Gabriella Zahra, Kim Parnis and Maryrose Cardona all regained a first-team place.

The formation featured Xuereb defending the posts, with Farrugia and Vella as central backs, supported by side-backs Maryrose Cardona and Yasmeen Vella. The midfield diamond featured Melania Bajada as the defensive shield in front of the defence, Zahra and Tegelmann as central midfielders while Cilia took up a roaming role behind the two strikers Alishia Sultana and Raina Giusti.

The First Half

The opening stages proved to be very balanced as both teams studied their opponent. Mgarr sent a warning of their counter-attack speed on the eighth minute, when Brenda Borg raced forward and dribbled past two players, but Yasmeen Vella did an excellent block to stop the danger.

The rhythm of the match did not change in the opening twenty minutes as both teams remained balanced and compact. Birkirkara were enjoying possession but they found difficulty in penetrating the solid Mgarr rear-guard. The Stripes had a shot by Gabriella Zahra ending wide and over, while Mgarr tried their luck with a shot by Brenda Borg which failed to hit the target.

Birkirkara threatened mid-way through the first half with a direct free-kick by Melania Bajada, but the latter's effort was parried by the Mgarr goalkeeper, Stepahanie Cremona. Four minutes later, the Steipes had another good action, when Martina Cilia served Alishia Sultana,who delivered an excellent low cross, but the Birkirkara players failed to connect in front of Cremona.

Ten minutes from half time, Gabriella Zahra supplied an excellent through ball in the path of Alishia Sultana, who hit a first-timer on the run, but her strike missed the target. Four minutes from time, Stephania Farrugia headed wide, off Melania Bajada's corner kick.

Two minutes from half time, Alishia Sultana's cross was once again a threat for the Mgarr rear-guard with Cremona failing to catch. Giusti tried to round the goalkeeper but the latter made a fine recovery. Just seconds from half time, Yanika Fenech had a free-kick ending inches over for Mgarr.

The Second Half

Birkirkara were unlucky not to enjoy a perfect start to second half. After just two minutes, Martina Cilia unleashed a powerful strike that smashed against the crossbar, and from the rebound, Rains Giusti saw her left-footed shot ending over.

Birkirkara hit the post for the second time just six minutes later. Zahra supplied yet another great through-ball in the path of Raina Giusti, who raced forward, only to see her shot hitting the upright. From the rebound, Alishia Sultana saw her shot being saved by Cremona.

Ten minutes into the second half the Stripes surged ahead. Hanna Tegelmann played an excellent through ball in the path of Alishia Sultana who served Martina Cilia who in turn lobeed over goalkeeper Cremona.

Mid-way through the second half, Gabriella Zahra, who was doing an excellent job of feeding the strikers, sent yet another through ball in the path of Giusti, whose shot ended over the bar. Mgarr replied with a shot by Brenda Borg, which was easily parried by Xuereb fifteen minutes from time.

A pass by Bajada in the path of Giusti, unzipped the Mgarr rear-guard, but Cremona rushed out to stop the action.

Birkirkara made them two six minutes from time, when Alishia Sultana scored a gem of a goal. The tireless player won possession in midfield, and made a spectacular solo action by dribbling past three markers, then raced forward inside the box and concluded calmly in the right low corner.

This was the killer blow for the Greens, who were now stunned and unable to make any sort of reaction. The referee's full-time whistle found Birkirkara extending their run of taking maximum points from the first five matches.

BIRKIRKARA: Janice Xuereb, Maryrose Cardona, Stephania Farrugia, Kim Parnis, Yasmeen Vella, Melania Bajada, Gabriella Zahra, Hanna Tegelmann, Martina Cilia, Alishia Sultana, Raina Giusti.

MGARR: Stephanie Cremona, Rebecca D'Agostino, Nicole Cutajar, Antoinette Sammut, Natasha Pace, Abigail Borg, Brenda Borg, Jasmine Vella Turner, Yanika Fenech, Nicole Buttigieg, Rachel Nolan (68' Isabelle Mazzitelli).

Scorers: 55' Martina Cilia, 84' Alishia Sultana.

comments powered by Disqus