Excellent Stripes hit five past Mgarr

by Ayrton Galea - 28th November 2012

A brilliant Birkirkara's Women side registered their second consecutive win when in a one sided match, they defeated Mgarr United with a 5-0 score.

Still fresh from the 8-0 victory over Tarxien Rainbows, Birkirkara produced another determined performance where once again there was no doubt where the three precious points were going. Five goals, two times denied by the post and another two balls cleared off the line saw no reply by the outclassed opponents Mgarr.

What definitely caught the eye of those present was the continues rotation in the squad especially in the attacking department. With no fixed striker, as Gabriella Zahra, Rachel Cuschieri and Raina Giusti continually roaming, the Mgarr defence had a hard task keeping Birkirkara away from creating scoring opportunities.

Rosanne Xerri and Janice Xuereb, who replaced Kelly Agius Pace and Nina Dimech were the only changes by Mr. Johann Scicluna from their last outing.

The First Half

Following a quite start, Birkirkara started to show their intentions and a direct free-kick by Rachel Cuschieri on the fifth minute ended wide.

Rachel was in action once again as Birkirkara were looking for an early goal. The National midfielder rounded a player before firing a shot which ended wide on the 10th minute.

Gabriella Zahra on the 12th minute tried a long distance shot which ended wide without creating any particular danger.

Rachel Cuschieri seemed to put ‘The Stripes' ahead on the 13th minute when she fired a long distance powerful effort but her shot was denied by the crossbar.

Isabelle Mazzitelli had a dangerous cross shot on the 19th minute saved by goalkeeper Tabone.

Birkirkara took the deserved lead on the 20th minute. Gabriella Zahra served Isabelle Mazzitelli who passed to Martina Cilia and she beat goalkeeper Tabone with a low shot to score her first goal in this league campaign.

Rachel Cuschieri almost scored Birkirkara's second goal in quick succession as hardly a minute later, Cuschieri fired a typical shot of hers which once again was denied by the crossbar.

Gabriella doubled the lead on the 23rd minute. Rachel sent a perfect through-ball to Gabriella Zahra who advanced, rounded a player and placed the ball past Tabone. This means that Gabriella scored in the last four consecutive matches.

Two almost became three on the 28th minute when Mazzitelli sent a perfect low cross, however nobody managed to hit the ball.

Raina Giusti, on the 30th minute, concluded wide from an ideal position.

Birkirkara continued to create chances to add the third goal and close the game. On the 35th minute, Rachel rounded three players before Tabone came out and performed a well timed tackle to stop the fast midfielder.

However the third goal was in the air and finally Rachel Cuschieri was not denied. On the 37th minute, Rachel Cuschieri fired a powerful shot from outside the box which totally beat Tabone.

Off a low cross by Rachel Cuschieri on the 39th minute, Raina Giusti concluded over the bar from inside the box.

The first half which was dominated by ‘The Stripes' finished with them enjoying a comfortable three goal lead, besides being denied by the crossbar twice.

The Second Half

In the first substitution for Birkirkara six minutes in the second half, Chantal Fenech was included for Kim Parnis.

Once again, the half began on a quite note before on the 53rd minute, Gabriella Zahra served Martina Cilia, whose first time effort ended wide.

With the wind blowing against, life got harder for 'The Stripes' to play their game while Mgarr improved in their play as they were more compact at the back.

In the first action for Mgarr both in the game and in the second half on the 54th minute, a diagonal shot ended wide. Mgarr were close once again less than a minute later with a shot from inside the box which was saved by goalkeeper Xuereb.

Maryrose Cardona could have increased the lead for Birkirkara on the 59th minute, but her first time effort from inside the box ended wide.

In the second substitution for Birkirkara on the 62nd minute, Simone Buttigieg replaced Rosanne Xerri.

Gabriella Zahra had a close range effort blocked by goalkeeper Tabone on the 63rd minute following a perfect typical pass by Cuschieri.

Birkirkara remained the best side and they increased the lead to four goals. Twenty minutes in the second half, Rachel Cuschieri scored a brilliant goal, from just a few metres from the middle of the field, which beat a surprised Tabone.

In an isolated action for Mgarr on the 67th minute, Janice Xuereb performed a fine save off a long distance effort.

Rachel Cuschieri could have increased the lead further on the 68th minute. She anticipated goalkeeper Tabone but her touch was too long , and the ball ended in a goal kick.

Birkirkara ended up playing with ten players in a controversial decision on the 72nd minute. Martina Cilia was cautioned for a controversial foul and showed the second yellow card in quick succession for passing remarks.

Kelly Agius Pace was included off Raina Giusti fifteen minutes from the end. The National player, hardly a minute later, was unlucky not to put her name on the scoring sheet as she rounded the goalkeeper but the defender cleared the ball off the goal line.

Birkirkara made them five on the 80th minute when first Gabriella Zahra had a ball cleared off the goal line but Kelly Agius Pace's perfect cross found the same player to score her second goal and the fifth one for 'The Stripes'.

On the 83rd minute Kelly rounded two players before hitting over the bar by centimetres, from an ideal position.

The full time whistle found Birkirkara registering another comfortable victory and another boost to their morale for the upcoming matches.

BIRKIRKARA: Janice Xuereb, Kim Parnis (51' Chantal Fenech), Isabelle Mazzitelli, Maryrose Cardona, Rosanne Xerri (62' Simone Buttigieg), Stephania Farrugia, Martina Cilia, Rachel Cuschieri, Raina Giusti (75' Kelly Agius Pace, Gabriella Zahra.

MGARR:Marie Claire Tabone, Chantelle Bezzina, Abigail Camilleri, Antoinette Sammut, Debbie Pisani, Brenda Borg, Maria Mizzi, Alice Stanton, Daniela Ebejer, Maria Mamo, Melania Vella.

Scorers: 20' Martina Cilia, 23' Gabriella Zahra, 37' Rachel Cuschieri, 65' Rachel Cuschieri, 80' Gabriella Zahra

Yellow Cards: Gabriella Zahra, Rachel Cuschieri, Martina Cilia.

Red Cards: 72' Martina Cilia

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