Women Under-17's in Knock-Out final

by Ayrton Galea - 21st May 2017

Birkirkara FC Women Under-17's Team produced a magnificent performance to secure a place in the Under-17's Knock-Out Final, when they scored three goals in the extra-time period to defeat Tarxien Rainbows with a 5-2 score.

Sarah Urpani completed a hat-trick while Veronique Mifsud scored a brace in Birkirkara's best performance of the season. The Stripes were sharp up-front while they showed great tactical organisation and were compact at the back.

The Stripes will be facing Gozo FC in the Knock-Out final on Sunday, 28 May. The match will be played at the Kirkop Grounds and it will kick off at 10:00.

The First Half

The Stripes went out with all guns blazing and they surged ahead after three minutes. Captain Sarah Urpani produced a wonderful solo-action that saw her dribbling past her marker and make her way inside the box, before her well-placed shot hit the crossbar and into the net.

Tarxien Rainbows made an instant reaction and they made the score level two minutes later. Following a clearance from a corner kick, the ball fell to the path of Jessica Dimech who hit a powerful shot from distance, that gave goalkeeper Anthea Enriquez no chance.

The Rainbows turned the score in their favour on the tenth minute. Jessica Dimech's long distance free-kick surprised the Birkirkara goalkeeper, who could deflect the ball as the ball went into the net.

The Second Half

The Stripes looked to be inspired with what Coach Kelly Agius Pace said during the break, as they made the score level after just one minute inside the second half. Veronique Mifsud's powerful drive from distance hit the post, but Urpani was at the right place to drill home from the rebound.

Birkirkara were unlucky not to turn the score in their favour on the fifty-sixth minute, but Veronique Mifsud's cross-shot hit the crossbar. On the other side of the pitch, from the following counter attack, Birkirkara goalkeeper Anthea Enriquez produced a brilliant save to turn the ball into a corner kick.

The Extra Time

Birkirkara surged ahead again just before the end of the first half of the extra-time period. Sarah Urpani produced a wonderful solo-action that saw her dribbling the ball from the half-way line all the way inside the box, and once again kept her cool to place the ball at the back of the net.

The Stripes put their place in the final beyond any doubt five minutes from time. Veronique Mifsud produced a gem of a goal when she hit a thunderous shot from few metres past the half-way line that surprised the Tarxien goalkeeper.

Mifsud added further gloss on the victory with her second personal goal just two minutes later. The towering player raced forward and anticipated the on-rushing goalkeeper, before slotting the ball into an empty net for a final 5-2 score.

BIRKIRKARA: Anthea Enriquez, Kaycee Micallef, Michela Felice, Samantha Zarb, Sarah Urpani, Nicole Zammit, Veronique Mifsud, Sarah Cassar (88' Nicole Borg), Mariah Cardona.

Yellow Cards: Nicole Zammit

Scorers: 3', 36', 80' Sarah Urpani, 85', 87' Veronique Mifsud (Birkirkara), 5', 10' Jessica Dimech (Tarxien Rainbows).

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