Women's Team beat Mgarr by the odd goal in three

by Ayrton Galea - 27th February 2013

Birkirkara FC Women's Team registered their third consecutive victory when in a hard fought match, they defeated Mgarr United by the odd goal in three.

Coming from two victories, the Stripes' morale was high but they found another difficult challenge to overcome as Mgarr played a fine tactical match. However, Birkirkara who had a slight edge over their opponents, did what mattered, as they picked up more precious points for their title challenge.

It was a match characterised by three penalties, two for Birkirkara and one for Mgarr all in the first half. Birkirkara secured the three points by scoring two goals in the first half despite having several fine opportunities where they could have increased further the lead in the second half.

Birkirkara opted for their usual 3-5-2 formation although they had several changes from their first-eleven selection. Janice Xuereb replaced Nina Dimech at defending the posts, Kirstie Vella replaced the suspended Alishia Sultana and Simone Buttigieg replaced Kelly Agius Pace who began the match on the bench. Maryrose Cardona was advanced in the position of a striker where she had an excellent performance winning a penalty, and scoring what had to be the winning goal besides her continuous pressure on the Mgarr's defence.

On the other hand, Mgarr opted for a balanced 4-1-4-1 formation building their attacks on Brenda Micallef and Claudette Xuereb.

The First Half

Birkirkara started on an aggressive note trying their luck on goal in less than a minute when Gabriella Zahra had a shot from outside the box saved by goalkeeper.

However, Mgarr's reply was quick and on the fourth minute, Alice Stanton also had a shot from outside the box which goalkeeper Janice Xuereb saved without any difficulty.

Maryrose Cardona had a fine chance after nine minutes when her shot from inside the box ended wide.

Birkirkara should have scored the opening goal after eleven minutes when they were awarded a penalty after Simone Buttigieg was floored inside the box. However, Raina Giusti's shot was well saved by goalkeeper Ruth Debono.

However, hardly two minutes later, Birkirkara received a golden opportunity to pay back for this great chance lost when they were awarded another penalty. Maryrose Cardona was floored inside the box by the goalkeeper and the referee had no choice but to order a penalty kick. From the eleven metres, Kim Parnis' powerful shot beat Debono.

Just twelve minutes after Birkirkara's second penalty, the referee ordered the third penalty of the match, this time for Mgarr United after Stephania Farrugia fouled Daniela Ebejer inside the box. From the eleven metres, Antoinette Sammut equalised.

This seemed to be a wake-up call for the Stripes as they surged back ahead on the half-hour. Kim Parnis sent a fine through ball in the direction of Maryrose Cardona. Goalkeeper Debono rushed out and made an erratic clearance and Cardona slotted home in an empty net to regain Birkirkara's lead.

Gabriella Zahra had a fine long distance shot on the 37 minutes saved by goalkeeper Debono in two attempts.

Just before the half time whistle, Birkirkara had a dangerous free-kick which caused chaos inside the box but somehow the goalkeeper neutralised the danger.

The Second Half

Following a quite start, Mgarr almost equalised on the 56th minute when they had a fine shot ending wide.

Birkirkara's Coach Mr. Johann Scicluna utilised his first substitution on the hour mark when he introduced Kelly Agius Pace to replace Simone Buttigieg.

Kelly Agius Pace almost left her mark on the match after just three minutes as she almost made them three for the Stripes. Gabriella Zahra sent a perfect ball in her direction who tried to lob over Debono but the latter somehow blocked her attempt.

Kim Parnis also went near for Birkirkara on the 66th minute when she fired a ferocious shot from a long distance which scratched past the crossbar. Two minutes later, Isabelle Mazzitelli served well Kelly Agius Pace who fired a diagonal shot which also ended over.

In an isolated attempt by Mgarr on the 70 minutes, Brenda Borg saw her effort ending wide.

In Birkirkara's second substitution on the 73rd minute, Maryrose Cardona was replaced by youngster Kelly Groves.

Kim Parnis tried her luck with a long range effort direct free-kick after 76 minutes which was well saved by goalkeeper Debono.

Isabelle Mazzitelli could have concluded much better on the 77th minute when she found herself in an ideal position and tried to lob over the goalkeeper but unfortunately she did not hit the ball well, and it went out for a goal kick.

Kim Parnis tried her luck with another free-kick on the 78th minute, which ended wide. Less than a minute later, Raina Giusti had a shot saved by goalkeeper Debono.

Parnis was in action once again on the 80th minute when she had a shot on target saved by the goalkeeper.

Just before the final whistle, Birkirkara wasted a golden opportunity to make them three. Off a freekick by Kim Parnis, no less then four Birkirkara players found themselves in front of the goalkeeper but Raina's weak shot was saved by Debono.

The referee's full time whistle found the Stripes keeping the pace with leaders Mosta and Hibernians just one match before the league will be divided in the Championship and Relegation Pool phase where the Stripes will be involved in what many consider do-or-die matches.

BIRKIRKARA: Janice Xuereb, Yasmeen Vella, Maryrose Cardona (73' Kelly Groves), Stephania Farrugia, Simone Buttigieg (60' Kelly Agius Pace), Kirstie Vella, Kim Parnis, Gabriella Zahra, Charlene Schembri, Isabelle Mazzitelli.

MGARR: Ruth Debono, Brenda Borg, Jasmine Vella Turner, Abigail Camilleri, Chantelle Bezzina, Maria Mizzi, Antoinette Sammut, Alice Stanton, Claudette Xuereb, Daniela Ebejer, Mariana Vella.

Scorers: 13' Kim Parnis, 30' Maryrose Cardona (Birkirkara), 25' Antoinette Sammut (Mgarr).

comments powered by Disqus