Women: Birkirkara FC 0-1 Hibernians FC

by Ayrton Galea - 21st March 2018

Birkirkara FC Women's Team lost the top of the table clash of the BOV Women's League on Wednesday evening, as a goal by substitute Ylenia Carabott gave Hibernians FC a narrow 1-0 victory. This was Birkirkara's first defeat in this league campaign.

In a match full of episodes, including a controversial goal not given for the Stripes, the Stripes conceded their first defeat in this league campaign, following the goal-less draw against the same Hibernians in the first round.

This defeat saw Hibernians take sole-leadership as they moved one point clear on top of the table. Birkirkara and Hibernians will meet once again in the league's last match on the 25 April 2018.

Disallowed goal

The Stripes looked to have surged ahead when Stephania Farrugia headed the ball home on the thirty-fifth minute. However, in a very controversial decision, referee Slobodan Petrivoc cancelled the goal after he adjudicated the Birkirkara player has pushed her opponent.

Goalkeeper set-back

Goalkeeper Janice Xuereb suffered a nasty challenge few minutes before half-time and the Birkirkara goalkeeper was substituted off for the start of the second half. Veteran goalkeeper Nina Dimech replaced the gap between the posts.

Denied by the woodwork twice in sixty seconds

The Stripes went out for the second half with all guns blazing. Joselene Gafa saw her header denied by woodwork on the fourty-eighth minute while Raina Giusti had the same luck, or the lack of it, as her shot smashed against the post.

Winning goal for Hibernians

Hibernians scored what had to be the winning goal on the sixty-second minute. Shona Zammit's strike was blocked by goalkeeper Dimech but substitute Ylenia Carabott was the quickest to react and slotted home from close-range.

Pressure to no avail

The Stripes put everything forward with forwards Mariah Sciberras and Sarah Urpani replacing the off-day Raina Giusti and Gabriella Zahra to force Hibernians to defend for their own half for most of the second half.

Birkirkara went close deep into stoppage time when Yasmeen Vella's header ended just over the bar. The referee's full-time whistle saw Birkirkara efforts to no avail as Hibernians held strong for a vital victory.

BIRKIRKARA: Janice Xuereb (46' Nina Dimech), Gabriella Zahra (88' Sarah Urpani), Ann-Marie Said, Kim Parnis, Stephania Farrugia, Samantha Zarb (58' Jelena Sakic), Mariah Sciberras, Tracy Teuma, Alishia Sultana, Raina Giusti (77' Mariah Sciberras), Yasmeen Vella, Joselene Gafa (57' Veronique Mifsud)

Yellow Cards: Joselene Gafa, Yasmeen Vella (Birkirkara), Chantelle Grech (Hibernians)

Scorer: 62' Ylenia Caraboot (Hibernians).

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