Champions Birkirkara beat Hibernians to extend unbeaten streak

by Ayrton Galea - 26th April 2017

Champions Birkirkara FC Women's Team registered their eighteenth consecutive victory in the BOV Women's First Division League when they defeated Hibernians FC with a 3-2 score. The Stripes are now just one match away from completing the whole league campaign unbeaten.

The Stripes continued to impress and kept marching on towards an impressive unbeaten league campaign when defeated the former champions in a balanced encounter. By this result, Birkirkara have now won all four league matches against Hibernians.

Birkirkara and Hibernians were sharing the spoils at the break after Ylenia Carabott cancelled Stephania Farrugia's early goal for Birkirkara. However, goals by Kelly Agius Pace and Raina Giusti put the Stripes in a comfortable lead before Rodiana Borg pulled one back late in the match.

The First Half

The Stripes went out on the offensive right from the start. Alishia Sultana dashed inside the box after four minutes, but her shot was blocked by goalkeeper Sonia Farrugia. Moments later, Agius Pace's uprising shot was turned into a corner kick by Farrugia.

Birkirkara surged ahead after ten minutes. A cross by Raina Giusti found Leanne Micallef whose first-time pass put Stephania Farrugia alone against Farrugia and the Birkirkara Captain drilled a low shot in the net from close-range.

Boosted by the opening goal, the Stripes continued to dictate matters. Raina Giusti made a terrific solo-run before playing a delightful one-two pass with Alishia Sultana, but Giusti's shot from an ideal position ended wide.

Hibernians began to step-up their tempo, but it was the Stripes who went close again just past the half-hour mark. Kelly Agius Pace served Raina Giusti who hit a powerful drive from outside the box, but her shot ended just over the bar.

The Paolites made the score level six minutes from half-time. A corner kick from left created havoc inside the box before Ylenia Carabott blasted the ball home from close-range.

The Second Half

The Stripes regained the lead six minutes inside the second half. Team's top-scorer Kelly Agius Pace produced a moment of magic when she proved her excellent technical skills as she scores directly from the corner kick with a powerful curling effort.

Birkirkara made them three on the sixty-fourth minute. Rapid winger Alishia Sultana did a dazzling run on the right wing before delivering an inch-perfect cross towards Giusti who hit a wonderful well-placed shot in the right top-corner.

Goalkeeper Janice Xuereb produced an excellent save on the sixty-eighth minute, when Ylenia Carabott unzipped the Birkirkara defence and hit a powerful shot, but the Birkirkara goalkeeper showed great reflexes to deny the Hibernians forward.

Hibernians' woes went on as they ended up playing with ten-men after Jade Flask was sent off for double booking, following a reckless foul on Alishia Sultana.

However, the Paolites still managed to get back in contention three minutes from time. A short-clearance saw the ball arriving at the path of Rodiana Borg who hit home with a low shot.

Hibernians were now filled with optimism that they could somehow save something from this match as they put everything forward, but the Stripes held strong to register their fourth consecutive victory against them.

All eyes will be on this Sunday, 30 April, when the Stripes will be lifting their sixth league title in the final match against Gozo FC. The match will be played at the Kercem Ajax Stadium and it will kick off at 11:00.

BIRKIRKARA: Janice Xuereb, Mariah Sciberras, Stephania Farrugia, Ann-Marie Said, Yasmeen Vella, Kim Parnis, Gabriella Zahra, Leanne Micallef (63' Sonia Schembri), Raina Giusti (88' Cassie Camilleri), Alishia Sultana (80' Sarah Urpani), Kelly Agius Pace.

Scorers: 10' Stephania Farrugia, 51' Kelly Agius Pace, 64' Raina Giusti.

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