UWCL - First point ever for Birkirkara FC
by Ayrton Galea - 14th August 2018
Birkirkara FC wrote a new page in their history when they registered the first ever point in the mini-tournament qualifying round of the UEFA Women's Champions League following a 2-2 draw against Cardiff Mett FC.
The Stripes became the second club to register a point in this competition, following Hibernians FC's feat way back in the mini-tournament qualifying round of the UEFA Women's Champions League 2015-2016.
Birkirkara fought back from a goal down twice in the first half as goals by Raina Giusti and latest signing Ylenia Carabott scored the first goals of their career in this competition to earn the Stripes a historic point.
Cardiff Mett surged ahead after eleven minutes. Naomi Clipston unzipped the defence with a perfect pass towards Erin Murray who all-alone rounded goalkeeper Janice Xuereb and drilled a low shot inside an empty net.
The Stripes made the score level on the twenty-seventh minute. Gabriella Zahra served Ylenia Carabott who sent an in-swinging cross inside the box that saw Raina Giusti anticipating the defender and hit home from close-range.
The Welsh side regained the lead on the thirty-fifth minute. An in-swinging corner kick by Robyn Pinder was not held by goalkeeper Janice Xuereb and Stephanie Turner had a routine task to slot the ball home from the loose ball.
However, just one minute before half time, the Stripes made the score level once again. Kim Parnis sent an inch-perfect vertical cross towards the on-running Ylenia Carabott who hit a spectacular drive from distance that gave goalkeeper Estelle Randal no chance.
Both teams had their chances in the second half with Birkirkara more focused not to concede the goal and they held strong to write a new page in the club's history and register the first point in this competition.
BIRKIRKARA: Janice Xuereb, Gabriella Zahra, Ann-Marie Said, Kim Parnis, Stephania Farrugia, Tracy Teuma, Alishia Sultana (63' Samantha Zarb), Raina Giusti, Yasmeen Vella, Ylenia Carabott, Jelena Sakic.
CARDIFF MET: Estelle Randall, Rebecca Matthias, Stephanie Turner, Eleanor Walker-Smith, Aimee Phillips, Robyn Pinder, Jessica Westhoff, Erin Murray, Naomi Clipston, Olivia Thompson (83' Chloe Tiley), Grace Corne (45' Kitty Wells).
Referee: Marķa Dolores Martinez Madrona (ESP)
Assistant Referees: Silvia Fernandez Perez (ESP), Iryna Petrova (UKR)
Fourth Official: Liudmyla Telbukh (UKR).
Yellow Cards: 61' Stephania Farrugia, 80' Ann-Marie Said, 82' Raina Giusti (Birkirkara).
Scorers: 27' Raina Giusti, 44' Ylenia Carabott (Birkirkara), 11' Erin Murray, 35' Stephanie Turner.
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