Women: Birkirkara FC 2-0 Hibernians FC

by Ayrton Galea - 17th October 2018

Birkirkara FC Women's Team registered the perfect start to their title defence in the BOV Women's League, as Kailey Willis and Raina Giusti scored a goal each in the first-half to help the Stripes defeat Hibernians FC with a 2-0 score.

Have lost the Super Cup with such a harsh result, the Stripes were all out to deliver a statement of intent of their real strength and they produced an emphatic performance rounded with two first-half goals to register the first victory of the season.

The build-up for this match for Coach Melania Bajada was anything but easy as the Birkirkara Coach had to do without Gabriella Zahra, Veronique Mifsud and Kim Parnis. With three players missing, all in midfield, Bajada included defender Ann-Marie Said in midfield with Jelena Sakic starting at the back.

There were also several changes upfront as Ylenia Carabott was delayed in midfield with Tracy Teuma while Alishia Sultana and Raina Giusti patrolled the wings. Fifteen-year-old Kailey Willis, who joined the Stripes this summer, was given the nod to start right from the start as centre-forward.

Willis made sure to leave her mark in her first start with our Club, as opened her scoring account on the thirteenth minute. The soaring forward made a perfect run into the space to meet an inch-perfect through-ball by Teuma before showing great confidence to lob over the goalkeeper.

The Stripes were unlucky not to double their lead just four minutes later. Teuma delivered an accurate free-kick on the first-post and Ann-Marie Said hit a fine header, but her effort was denied by the crossbar.

Hibernians began to settle down after conceding an early goal. They were now enjoying more possession, but they struggled to test goalkeeper Janice Xuereb. Dorianne Theuma had a long-distance shot ending wide, while Francesca Chircop's diagonal shot also missed the target.

As the end of the first-half approached, Birkirkara improved. Willis' was tormenting the Hibs defence by her well-timed runs and the Birkirkara forward was unlucky not to score her second goal as her low powerful shot ended wide by a whisker.

Nonetheless, Birkirkara still managed to grab their second goal just before the half-time whistle. A long-ball unzipped the defence and rapid-winger Raina Giusti, who was last season's team's top-scorer, raced forward and kept cool before placing the ball at the back of the net.

With two goals to the good, the Stripes made their experience count in the second half by dropping the tempo of the match while they left no inch space at the back. Despite Hibernians put more players forward, the Stripes still went close on several occasions to increase the lead.

Giusti played an excellent through-ball towards Willis and the towering forward outpaced her marker, but her shot was saved by goalkeeper Grech. Ylenia Carabott went close for the Stripes moments later, but her shot from distance ended just over the bar.

Hibernians finished the match with ten players as defender Charlene Zammit was sent off for double bookings following two separate late tackles on Ylenia Carabott and Tracy Teuma.

BIRKIRKARA: Janice Xuereb, Yasmeen Vella, Stephania Farrugia, Jelena Sakic, Samantha Zarb, Ann-Marie Said, Alishia Sultana (84' Mariah Sciberras), Tracy Teuma, Ylenia Carabott, Raina Giusti (78' Rebecca Bajada), Kailey Willis (72' Sarah Urpani).

Yellow Cards: 87' Rebecca Bajada.

Scorers: 13' Kailey Willis, 45+2' Raina Giusti.

comments powered by Disqus