Women's Team defeat Tarxien
by Ayrton Galea - 20th February 2013
Birkirkara Women's Team registered their second victory yesterday evening when they defeated bottom placed Tarxien Rainbows with a 4-1 score.
One might have thought that the match against Tarxien would be a walk in the park for the Stripes. But the Rainbows showed great resilience not to get humiliated and they played their hearts out. The Rainbows defended in the best possible way and managed to frustrate the Stripes who also had a player sent off.
The Stripes had to deal with the small size of the pitch, probably the smallest pitch that they had ever played in recent years. A lot of controversy centred on whether Women's top league football should be played in this pitch or not. Tarxien made the best out of this factor by closing all the possible gaps with all their players behind the ball.
Birkirkara dominated the match right from the start thanks by having much of the ball possession but they did not had an easy task penetrating the solid Tarxien's defence whose aim was only to clear the ball to safer waters. After Birkirkara had a player sent off and Tarxien reduced the gap, Tarxien could have left the pitch with some points, but it was only a matter of seconds before Birkirkara regained a two-goal lead and added the fourth one in the dying minutes.
Mr. Johann Scicluna, the Birkirkara Women's Coach made two changes from the last first eleven which defeated Gozo last week. Raina Giusti replaced Rachel Cuschieri and Charlene Schembri was given her first start of the season when she replaced Martina Cilia. Kirstie Vella was once again available for Birkirkara and she was amongst the reserves.
The First Half
Birkirkara, still with morale high after their last victory, showed their intentions from the start as they tried to surge ahead early.
On the fourth minutes, the Stripes were close to draw first blood when they created a golden opportunity. Following a fine through-ball, Alishia Sultana sent a dangerous cross, with Kelly Agius Pace hitting high from an ideal position.
After nine minutes, Isabelle Mazzitelli had a shot ending over. Hardly a minute later, the Stripes went close once again. Kim Parnis fired a powerful shot which was blocked by goalkeeper Dorianne Grech. Off the rebound, Kelly Agius Pace's effort was also blocked, but the latter was in an offside position and Tarxien were awarded the freekick.
On the 12th minute, Gabriella Zahra served Raina Giusti who tried her luck with a vicious shot on target which was blocked with difficulty by the goalkeeper. Just seconds later, off a Raina's corner on the second post, Charlene Schembri headed wide.
Kelly Agius Pace almost put Birkirkara ahead on the 14th minute when her lob beat the goalkeeper but her effort scratched by the right post. Then, two minutes later, Raina Giusti served Gabriella Zahra whose effort ended totally over.
Tarxien seemed to be comfortable with their defensive tactics, closing all gaps, and aided with some luck. However, this was not for long as the Stripes' pressure for the opening goal was too much for the Rainbows and Birkirkara took the lead on the 17th minute.
Kelly Agius Pace's shot from inside the area was somehow blocked by Grech, but Maryrose Cardona was in the perfect position to make the best out of the rebound and put Birkirkara ahead.
This seemed to be a bit of relive for the Stripes thanks to the opening goal, but this did not change Tarxien's defensive mentality as they remained with all the players behind the ball, with their only aim to clear the danger from the back.
On the 21st minute, Birkirkara almost doubled the lead. Maryrose Cardona fired a fine shot from distance but her effort scratched past the left post.
Kim Parnis almost surprised the goalkeeper with a shot from outside the area after 24 minutes with Grech turned the ball into a corner with difficulty.
Close to the half-hour mark, Gabriella Zahra made a fine run in the midfield before serving Raina who had a ferocious attempt ending wide.
Gabriella was in action once again on the 32 minutes as the National player seemed to be a very consistent supplier for her the attacking players, this time serving Isabelle Mazzitelli who saw her shot ending over.
Maryrose Cardona tried her luck with a shot from outside the area but this time the goalkeeper found no difficulty to neutralise her attempt.
In the last action of the first half, five minutes from half time, Isabelle Mazzitelli had a shot ending over.
The Second Half
With the Stripes dominating the match and going close with several opportunities but still having a narrow lead, Mr. Johann Scicluna must made a strong point in his half-time team talk to make sure of the three points as soon as possible.
The players were quick to respond to the Coach's instructions as hardly a minute in the second half, Birkirkara doubled the lead. Youngster Raina Giusti scored a fine goal by beating goalkeeper Grech with a powerful shot from a diagonal angle.
Thanks to this goal, the Stripes were in a much more comfortable position, even if Tarxien continued to frustrate their opponents with their defensive tactic.
On the 52nd minute, Kelly Agius Pace went close to increase the lead but her low shot was saved by the goalkeeper. A minute later, Kim Parnis sent a vicious powerful shot but her effort ended over.
In the space of ten minutes, Mr. Johann Scicluna utilised three substitutions. Sacha Camilleri replaced Kelly Agius Pace on the 55th minute, Simone Buttigieg replaced Kim Parnis on the 58th minute and Kelly Groves replaced Maryrose Cardona on the 65th minute.
Raina Giusti, had a dangerous shot blocked by a defender on the 66th minute.
Just two minutes later, the Stripes had the perfect opportunity to make them three. Gabriella Zahra had a perfect vision to send a deadly through ball to Alishia Sultana who managed to beat the offside trap and be in an ideal position but she mis-kicked the ball to waste a fine opportunity.
The match seemed to become more complicated for the Stripes as twenty minutes from the end they ended playing with one player less. Alishia Sultana was sent off following retaliation.
Following this decision, both set of players seemed to lose their head with useless arguments as the referee stood by his decision to send off Alishia.
Birkirkara's match took another twist to the worse as against the run of the play, Tarxien reduced the gap on the 77th minute. Following a defensive blunder, Francesca Cauchi made the best out of the situation to catch goalkeeper Nina Dimech out of position to put her team back in the match.
However, Birkirkara did not lose concentration and hardly a minute later, the Stripes regained a two goal lead.
Off a Raina Giusti's corner, Stephania Farrugia rose high over everyone to beat the goalkeeper with a solid header to put Birkirkara in a comfortable once again and ending Tarxien's hopes of getting any points from this match.
Seven minutes from time, Kim Simler replaced Isabelle Mazzitelli in Birkirkara's fourth substitution.
Substitute Kelly Groves went close to increase further the lead when her shot was turned into a corner.
Three minutes from time, Birkirkara made them four. Raina Giusti surprised goalkeeper Grech with a powerful shot who gave the goalkeeper no chance, much to the joy of the Birkirkara players who could finally put their mind at rest for the final few minutes.
The full time whistle found Birkirkara registering the second consecutive victory by overcoming another obstacle in their run of the title challenge to keep the pace with Hibernians and Mosta respectively.
Birkirkara will be involved in the next match of the Women's BOV First Division league next Tuesday when they will face Mgarr United. The match will be played at the Pembroke Grounds and it is schedule to kick off at 20:00.
BIRKIRKARA: Nina Dimech, Charlene Schembri, Stephania Farrugia, Yasmeen Vella, Maryrose Cardona (65' Kelly Groves), Gabriella Zahra, Kim Parnis (58' Simone Buttigieg), Isabelle Mazzitelli (87' Kim Simler), Raina Giusti, Alishia Sultana, Kelly Agius Pace (55' Sacha Camilleri).
Scorers: 17' Maryrose Cardona, 46' Raina Giusti, 78' Stephania Farrugia, 87' Raina Giusti (Birkirkara), 77' Francesca Cauchi (Tarxien).
Red Cards: 70' Alishia Sultana (Birkirkara)
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