U16 Girls through to Knockout's Quater Final

by Ayrton Galea - 23rd April 2013

Birkirkara under 16's Girls advanced to the Quarter Final of the Under 16's knockout, when they made a fine come-back to eliminate Mgarr United with a 4-2 score in an entertaining match.

Having finished in a respectable third place in the league, the Birkirkara Under 16 girls turned all their efforts on the knockout, as they are currently the holders of this cup.

It was balanced match with the Stripes having a slight edge over their opponents with Mgarr defending well and closing every space in the defence department.

Things seem to complicate themselves for the Stripes when they went 2-1 down after the half-time, but it was only a wake-up call for the Stripes who made a fine come-back to score three goals and turn the match into their favour.

Birkirkara surged ahead early in the match as after just three minutes they took the lead. Top-scorer of the league, Raina Giusti performed a solo-action before her low shot beat goalkeeper Patricia Ebejer.

However, Birkirkara's lead was short-lived as four minutes later, Mgarr equalised in their first scoring opportunity. Following a fine pass, Luana Vella's first time effort from a diagonal angle hit the post and with Janice Xuereb beaten the ball went in.

For the rest of the first half, Birkirkara threatened to regain the lead but Mgarr defended well to end the first twenty-five minutes in an odds even score.

In the second half, the Stripes tried surge back in the lead but it was Mgarr who took the lead for the first time in the match.

In a fast break-away, Luana Vella once again received the ball and from a diagonal angle her first-time effort was once again too powerful for Xuereb to save, and Vella put Mgarr in the lead.

This served as a wake-up call for the Stripes, as finally, Birkirkara increased their level and quickly equalised.

On the 33rd minute, Janice Xuereb gave a perfect drop kick, with the Mgarr defender failing to hit. Kelly Groves was in the best position to make the best out of this blunder as her first-time volley beat goalkeeper Ebejer.

Just two minutes later, Birkirkara regained the lead in the match. Alishia Sultana caught the goalkeeper out of position and scored a wonderful goal with a long-distance shot which was surely a deserve award for the hard-working midfielder and she put the Stripes back in the lead.

Three became four on the 40th minute, when off another wonderful shot by Alishia Sultana, this time the ball hit the post and off the rebound, Raina Giusti's low drive beat the goalkeeper for her second personal goal.

With the score not changing in the last 10 minutes, the Stripes advanced to the Quarter Final, when they will face Tarxien Rainbows on 5 May at the Ghaghur Grounds. The match will kick off at 09:00.

BIRKIRKARA: Janice Xuereb, Julia Micallef, Alexia Galea, Alishia Sultana, Kelly Groves, Raina Giusti, Mariah Sciberras (41' Mireille Bellizzi)

MGARR: Patricia Ebejer, Maria Mifsud, Alexia Vella (46' Tiziana Muscat), Luana Vella, Brenda Borg, Michaela Gauci, Annalee Vella.

Scorers: 3' Raina Giusti, 33' Kelly Groves, 35' Alishia Sultana, 40' Raina Giusti (Birkirkara), 7', 28' Luana Vella (Mgarr)

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