Birkirkara's Women Team reach Semi Finals
by Ayrton Galea - 24th April 2012
In a heart throbbing quarter final from the Women's Knock-Out, Birkirkara advanced to the Semi Finals at the expense of Gozo FC. Penalties had to decide the verdict since after extra time was played, the match was still in a draw of 1-1.
Birkirkara's performance was not one of the best one, as their level of play decreased from the previous matches, but at the end, they still managed to go through.
After conceding a silly goal, Birkirkara's reaction was good and as time went by they increased the pressure on the Gozitans, who found difficulty in getting out of their own half. However, this was not enough, as the match still had to be decided by a penalty shoot-out.
For Birkirkara, Stephania Farrugia was solid at the back as usual and Alishia Sultana had a good performance. Kelly Agius Pace, who came on as a substitute also had a good match thanks to her movements. In the later stages of the game Martina Cilia's performance level increased. Raina Giusti who also came on as a substitute, was a constant threat to the opponents' defence.
The First Half
The First half was rather boring, with most of the play happening in the middle of the field and both teams failed to reach their potential. After Gozo scored and punished Birkirkara for a fatal mistake, Birkirkara reacted and equalised before the interval.
In the first action of the match, on the 1st minute, Martina Cilia found Gabriella Zahra whose fine shot was turned into a corner by the goalkeeper.
Following a patch where the match was lacking from goal scoring opportunities, a long distance shot by Gabriella on the 16th minute, was too weak to create any danger.
Birkirkara suffered a very soft goal on the 18th minute, when due to lack of communication between Maryrose Cardona and Janice Xuereb, the Gozo player beat Janice Xuereb from close range.
Folllowing a fine pass from the left, Kim Parnis could have concluded so much better from an ideal position but her central shot was saved by the goalkeeper on the 19th minute.
In an early substitution for Birkirkara, on the 25th minute, striker Kelly Agius Pace replaced defender Rosanne Xerri.
Following a back header by Yasmeenn Vella on the 35th minute, Janice Xuereb neutralised the danger.
A free-kick by Gabriella Zahra on the 40th minute ended over the bar.
Following a fast counter attack on the 43rd minute, Gabriella Zahra served Kelly Agius Pace whose shot was denied by the crossbar with the goalkeeper beaten.
Birkirkara equalised exactly before the half time whistle when Kelly Agius Pace went past a defender, found Kim Parnis who advanced with the ball before releaing a powerful shot that gave no chance to the goalkeeper.
The first half ended in a 1-1 draw, with Birkirkara failing to impress.
The Second Half
In the second half, Birkirkara increased the tempo and created more chances however they failed to score.
On the 2nd minute, following a fine pass from Chantal Fenech, Kelly Agius failed to hit from an ideal position.
Gabriella Zahra almost surprised the goalkeeper with a long distance shot on the third minute but she saved in two attempts.
Gabriella Zahra missed a fine opportunity when she advanced with the ball but her shot from an ideal position ended over on the 54th minute.
Gabriella Zahra was in action once again when on the 58th minute she tried a long distance shot which was saved by the goalkeeper.
In the second substitution for Birkirkara, Alishia Sultana was replaced with Raina Giusti on the 60th minute.
Following a solo run by Raina Giusti on the 70th minute, she concluded wide.
Birkirkara almost scored the second goal when on the 73th minute, Isabelle Mazzitelli's shot ended wide by inches.
Birkirkara continued to be the best team on the pitch, creating several occasions which unluckily enough none of them was enough to beat the goalkeeper.
On the 81st minute, Gabriella Zahra found Raina Giusti who advanced but the goalkeeper rushed out and cleared the danger.
Raina Giusti attempted a beautiful shot on the 82nd minute but the goalkeeper saved.
In a rare action for Gozo, a shot from the edge of the box ended wide.
On the 90th minute mark, Kelly Agius Pace entered the box but the defenders desperately clearing the ball into a corner.
In the added time, a long distance shot by Gozo was saved without difficulty by Janice Xuereb.
With no change in the score, the match had to go the extra time period.
The First Half of Extra Time
In the first minute, a shot on goal for Gozo was saved well by Janice Xuereb.
On the 4th minute, from a fine corner kick by Raina Giusti, Chantal Fenech headed over the bar.
Birkirkara continued their pressure and a shot from inside the box by Martina Cilia was saved by the goalkeeper with difficulty on the 7th minute.
A shot from outside the box on the 12th minute by Kim Parnis ended wide.
The first half of the extra time saw no changes with Birkirkara still searching for the winning goal.
The Second Half of Extra Time
Birkirkara continued to create several good goal scoring chances, putting the opponents under serious pressure, but as said earlier, nothing was enough to result in a goal.
Gabriella Zahra's weak shot on the 2nd minute was saved by the goalkeeper without difficulty.
A fine cross by Gabriella Zahra on the 4th minute saw Kelly Agius Pace rushing to the ball but the goalkeeper came out and cleared the danger.
Following a fine corner kick on the 8th minute, a dangerous header almost put Birkirkara ahead.
On the 12th minute, Janice Xuereb punched the ball into safety, following a corner-kick from Gozo.
Just few moments before the end of the extra time, on the 13th minute, a shot by Kelly Agius Pace inside the area ended wide.
With the score still 1-1, penalties had to decide the match.
Penalty shoot-out
Gozo - The ball hit the horizontal bar and went out.
Birkirkara - Chantal Fenech's shot hit the foot of the left post and went out.
Gozo - Scores
Birkirkara - Stephania Farrugia made no mistake and levelled matters for Birkirkara.
Gozo - Scores
Birkirkara - Raina Giusti made no mistake and scored from the eleven metres.
Gozo - Janice Xuereb saves the effort from the eleven metres.
Birkirkara - For the first time, Birkirkara went ahead as Gabriella Zahra converted the penalty.
Gozo - Scores
Birkirkara - Kim Parnis scored the most important penalty to send Birkirkara to the Semi Final.
BIRKIRKARA: Janice Xuereb, Isabelle Mazzitelli, Stephania Farrugia, Yasmeen Vella, Maryrose Cardona, Rosanne Xerri (25' Kelly Agius Pace), Kim Parnis, Alishia Sultana (60' Raina Giusti), Chantal Fenech, Gabriella Zahra, Martina Cilia.
Scorers: 18' Gozo, 45' Kim Parnis.
Birkirkara will now face Hibernians in the Semi Finals, with the latter having beat Melita with a comfortable 6-0 score.
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