Stephania's brilliant goal grabs a point for Stripes

by Ayrton Galea - 16th January 2013

Stephania Farrugia's spectacular goal just five minutes from the end enabled Champions Birkirkara to grab a point in the match that pitted the champions Birkirkara versus the leaders Mosta.

After against the run of the play, Dorianne Theuma puts Mosta ahead close to the one hour mark, Birkirkara seemed that they will be conceding their second league defeat at the hands of Mosta but propelled by a great team spirit, Stephania Farrugia had other ideas and she unleashed a great shot outside the box to deny Mosta from registering the double over Birkirkara.

With a win at stake, that for Mosta would have meant moving six points clear over Birkirkara, while for the latter it would have meant joint leadership, it was not a surprise that the match was a very balanced one with both sides not leaving an inch of space to their opponent.

Birkirkara held the initiative for long stretches, and might consider themselves unlucky to have suffered a goal in one of the rare goal scoring chances created by Mosta. On the other hand, after taking the lead, Mosta seemed to be controlling the match quite well despite being continually under pressure but finally they had to give in to Birkirkara's resilience and suffered the equalising goal.

With this draw, Birkirkara still remain three points under the same Mosta but there is no doubt that never-give-up attitude shown today will boost their morale for the upcoming matches.

The First Half

Mosta came out strongly in the early minutes by creating the first scoring opportunity but it was not long before Birkirkara took the control of the game in their hands.

A fast breakthrough for Mosta after seven minutes saw youngster Jade Flask finding herself in an ideal position but her shot from inside the box ended wide.

Birkirkara began to settle down and play better football, and took control of the game. National player Rachel Cuschieri had one of her typical long distance shots saved by goalkeeper Costantino on the 14th minute.

Just two minutes later, Costantino was threatened once again when Rachel Cuschieri's fierce freekick ended wide of her left post.

The high pressure being made in the Mosta's half pitch seemed to be functioning very well for the Stripes as Mosta were hardly ever making consecutive passes with their only option remaining to clear the ball into safer water and lose possession to the aggressive Birkirkara side.

After 24 minutes, Rachel's first post corner found Martina Cilia whose shot ended over. Three minutes later, in an isolated attack for Mosta, Dorianne Theuma had a shot saved by goalkeeper Janice Xuereb.

Birkirkara lost a golden opportunity on the 29th minute to break the dead lock. Off a deflected cross from the right, Kim Parnis found herself in a in ideal position but her powerful shot scratched past the left post.

What Kim failed to do, Maryrose Cardona seemed to have managed, when on half hour mark she connected with a fine header to beat goalkeeper Bedingfield. However, the goal was ruled out for an offside position.

Rachel Cuschieri sent a deadly low cross shot on the 37 minutes which however failed to be connected by her team mates. Hardly a minute later, Stephania Farrugia, who was once again playing in an advanced role, tested Costantino with a fine shot which was equally well saved.

Just when everyone thought that the first half was heading to a goal-less draw, Rachel Cuschieri almost surprised the present numerous Birkirkara supporters. After passing the circle of the middle of the pitch, Rachel unleashed a powerful shot which surprised Costantino but ended on the roof of the net.

The Second Half

As they did in the first half, it was Mosta who held the initiative in the early stages till Birkirkara found back their feet and took control of the match once again.

Mosta created their best opportunity in the match when off a perfect corner on the second post, a header from close range somehow ended over.

Birkirkara's reply was nothing less as they also created a fine opportunity which could easily led them to the lead. Ten minutes in the second half, Rachel sent a sweet corner in the box who found Gabriella unmarked but the latter failed to control properly, mainly because of a deflection by a defender.

However, Mosta had the last laugh of this tale of scoring opportunities as on the tick of the hour mark, they took the lead. Dorianne Theuma's perfect lob broke the dead-lock and gave Mosta a price-less lead.

Shocked by this goal, Birkirkara's reaction seemed to be quite weak as despite putting everything forward and continually keeping Mosta under pressure, they failed to conclude.

The first goal scoring in bid of the equalising goal for Birkirkara saw Rachel performing a solo action before her final shot ended wide.

With Birkirkara playing against time, Mr. Johann Scicluna utilised his first substitution after 70 minutes when he included Alishia Sultana off Martina Cilia.

On the 75th minute, Rachel had a shot saved by the goalkeeper and just seconds later Gabriella had a shot ending wide.

With the time ticking down and less than fifteen minutes to go, Birkirkara put everything forward as Raina Giusti replaced Yasmeen Vella. Chantal Fenech and Kim Parnis were the only two players to defend Birkirkara's rear guard for the final few minutes.

On the 79th minute, Gabriella served Rachel whose powerful shot was turned into a corner. Two minutes later, Rachel was unlucky to hit the crossbar with a dangerous cross-shot.

Substitute Raina Giusti tried her luck with a shot from outside the box on the 82nd minute but her effort ended wide.

When everyone thought that despite under pressure, Mosta were heading for what could be a decisive victory to put them six points clear over Birkirkara, the never give up attitude paid off for Birkirkara. Stephania Farrugia's first time wonderful effort gave no chance to Costantino, to grab the equalising goal, much to the joy of the Birkirkara's bench and the numerous supporters.

Following this goal, Mr. Johann Scicluna was dismissed for running on the pitch to celebrate.

The goal seemed to fire up the Birkirkara players but with no time remaining, the referee's full time whistle found Birkirkara salvaging a priceless point which leaves the league title challenge wide open.

BIRKIRKARA: Janice Xuereb, Kim Parnis, Chantal Fenech, Yasmeen Vella (76' Raina Giusti), Maryrose Cardona, Martina Cilia (70' Alishia Sultana), Rachel Cuschieri, Stephania Farrugia, Isabelle Mazzitelli, Gabriella Zahra, Kelly Agius Pace

MOSTA: Sharon Costantino, Nicole Buttigieg, Catherine Camilleri, Oriana Bedingfield, Rebecca D'Agostino Jade Flask, Karen Lia, Annmarie Muscat, Natasha Pace, Dorianne Theuma, Shona Zammit.

Scorers: 58' Dorianne Theuma (Mosta), 85' Stephania Farrugia (Birkirkara)

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