BOV Women's Knock-Out - Birkirkara FC 3-0 Swieqi United FC
by Ayrton Galea - 23rd January 2019
Holders Birkirkara FC made it to the semi-final of the BOV Women's Knock-Out on Tuesday evening, when three goals in the last sixteen minutes enabled them to defeat the resilient Swieqi United FC with a 3-0 score.
Ylenia Carabott confirmed her rich form when she struck a splendid free-kick to break the dead-lock sixteen minutes from time while a goal each by Veronique Mifsud and Raina Giusti sealed Birkirkara's place with the last-four.
It was anything than a walk in the park for the Stripes, as Swieqi United FC produced a magnificent defensive display, but the Stripes left it till late to convert their superiority and make them eleven straight wins in all competitions this season.
Coach Melania Bajada made four changes from the last match as Alishia Sultana, Raina Giusti, Samantha Zarb and Veronique Mifsud regained a place in the starting-eleven selection. Jelena Sakic, Tracy Teuma and Mariah Sciberras were missing for the Stripes.
The First Half
Birkirkara went out with all guns blazing. Forward Kailey Willis went close after just two minutes, but her effort from inside the box ended wide. Moments later, Veronique Mifsud' shot from outside the box missed the target.
Ylenia Carabott had a shot ending wide, after served by Raina Giusti on the sixteenth minute. Three minutes later, Giusti hit a wonderful volley before her fierce shot from outside the box ended wide as the Stripes kept dictating matters.
The Stripes were all over their opponents and they almost broke the dead-lock, just before half-time. Willis made a fine run into space, but her powerful shot from inside the box was denied by a great save of Bulgarian goalkeeper, Vesna Vitanova.
The Second Half
The Stripes heaved a sigh of relief sixteen minutes from time thanks to the opening goal of the match. Following a foul outside the box on Veronique Mifsud, Ylenia Carabott confirmed her rich-form as she struck a splendid direct free-kick that hit hard past goalkeeper Vitanova.
Birkirkara doubled their lead on the eighty-second minute. Youngster Veronique Mifsud showed her technical abilities as she dribbled past two markers and hit a fierce shot that hit the post before went in for the Stripes' second goal.
The Stripes added further gloss on the victory and sealed their passage to the last four with the third goal two minutes from time. Substitute Sarah Urpani unzipped the defence with an accurate through-ball towards Raina Giusti and the latter raced forward before she drilled a low shot home.
BIRKIRKARA: Janice Xuereb, Ann-Marie Said, Stephania Farrugia, Samantha Zarb, Alishia Sultana, Kailey Willis (77' Sarah Urpani), Raina Giusti, Veronique Mifsud, Rebecca Bajada, Yasmeen Vella, Ylenia Carabott.
SWIEQI UNITED: Vesna Vitanova, Kate Galea, Emma Zammit, Celeste Grech, Yolande Attard, Simone Buttigieg (83' Venice Castro Giovanni), Amy Galea Gingell (72' Annabelle Rapa), Kirsty Paris (38' Aleksandra Georgieva), Cassandra Camilleri, Rachel Mifsud, Elise Abela.
Referee: Ryan Caruana.
Assistant Referees: Clive Borg, Raiden Psaila.
Yellow Cards: None.
Scorers: 74' Ylenia Carabott, 83' Veronique Mifsud, 88' Raina Giusti (Birkirkara).
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