Women's team held by Gozo

by Ayrton Galea - 29th April 2013

Birkirkara Women's Team utmost efforts were not enough to pick up the three points when despite dominating for most of the match they were unluckily held in a 1-1 draw against Gozo in a match that had different episodes which effected the final result.

It was a match that had several controversial episodes and incidents, including the unfortunate injury of Rachel Cuschieri, which seemed to demoralise the players. Losing a player of the quality of Cuschieri mid-way through the first half is always a draw-back for the team. The Stripes did their best to overcome another obstacle in the Championship Pool, but the Gozitans' bold defensive display denied them from a deserved victory.

Claiming that Birkirkara would have ben deserved winners of this match, one cannot take away the credit from Gozo who played an excellent defensive match. They did everything possible to gain time as much as possible, with their only intention being to clear into safety as quickly as possible Birkirkara's attacks.

When against the run of play, Gozo took the lead, Birkirkara's match turned into an uphill struggle, but the Stripes showed character and put their utmost effort to make a comeback. At a point they succeeded in doing as they equalised early in the second half but the Stripes were denied on several occasions from surging ahead to end the match in an odds even result.

Birkirkara's Coach, Mr. Johann Scicluna made just one change from his last first-eleven selection against Hibernians as he replaced Kelly Groves with Raina Giusti.

Thanks to this point won, Birkirkara are the sole leaders of the BOV Women's League. However Mosta and Hibernians who will cross swords in the much awaited match this Tuesday have a game in hand.

The First Half

With morale sky high, Birkirkara came out strong and they dominated the opening minutes to show their intentions.

After just three minutes, Birkirkara threatened for for the opening goal when Rachel Cuschieri unleashed a powerful free-kick from a diagonal position which ended wide.

Five minutes later, Rachel Cuschieri was in action once again. The National midfielder played an excellent through ball to Kelly Agius Pace on the run, but the ball, due to strong wind hitting the Maltese Islands, was too far for the Birkirkara forward.

However, despite Birkirkara shaded the early openings, against the run of the play in the first minutes, it was Gozo who took the lead on the 10 minutes in their first scoring opportunity.

Following an unfortunate defensive blunder, Emma Xuereb stole the ball outside the Birkirkara's box and served Tracy Theuma whose low shot beat Janice Xuereb.

Birkirkara were shocked by this disadvantage against the run of the play, but they fought hard not to give up and in their first reaction, they were unlucky not to equalise.

On the 19th minute, Kim Parnis' vicious free-kick beat the goalkeeper but the Gozitan concentrated defender was in the right place to clear into safety the ball off the goal-line.

Birkirkara suffered a critical draw-back on the 23rd minute when Rachel Cuschieri broke her arm and was unable to continue playing and had to be substituted. Simone Buttigieg took the National's player space.

With a goal down, and one of the key players substituted due to an injury in just the first half-hour of the match, one could began to notice that this was not Birkirkara's match as despite their effort, Gozo were keeping the Stripes at bay by defending in numbers.

However, the Stripes kept pushing forward as despite one goal down, they were still enjoying an edge over their opponents.

On the 36th minute, Kim Parnis had an effort on goal inside the box ending over. Just four minutes later, Parnis was in action once again this time hitting over a header following a corner by Raina Giusti.

Three minutes from the half-time whistle Birkirkara went near to grabbing the equalising goal. Raina Giusti played an excellent Acorner but substitute Simone Buttigieg and Gabriella Zahra failed to hit with the ball ending in a goal-kick.

Just before half time, the Stripes had another good opportunity when Kim Parnis made the best out of a defensive square pass, but the strong midfielder's first time effort ended wide.

Dominating but not enough, the Stripes found themselves a goal down at the end of the first half.

The Second Half

Having saw his team unable to grab the equalising goal in the first half despite enjoying a clear edge over their opponents, Coach Scicluna introduced Isabelle Mazzitelli to replace Simone Buttigieg.

With one goal down at half-time, the Stripes went all out for the second half to grab the equaliser as the earliest time possible, and thanks to the team's strong character, Birkirkara noticed the equalising goal just five minutes in the second half.

Stephania Farrugia was brought down inside the box and the referee had no option than to order the penalty for the Stripes. From the penalty spot, Kim Parnis kept cool as she converted by hitting hard past goalkeeper Fabienne Vella.

Birkirkara were now back on level terms and boosted by this equalising goal, the Stripes' territory superiority continued to shine.

On the hour mark, Raina Giusti tried her luck with a diagonal shot which scratched past the post.

Despite not testing goalkeeper Vella as one might expect, Birkirkara were all over Gozo with the latter's remaining option being fall back in their own box.

Gabriella Zahra had a fine chance to complete the comeback for the Stripes on the 68 minutes when she found herself an ideal position but lack of communication between the National player and Kelly Agius Pace denied Zahra from having the best conclusion and the ball ended in a goal-kick.

Frustrated, as he was witnessing his team dominating their opponents but the score still reading level, Mr. Scicluna made the third change on the 75th minute when he replaced Raina Giusti with Kelly Groves.

However, Gozo were still comfortable defending the result in numbers in their box, almost giving the Stripes a deja-vu of the first half when in their only attack attempt on goal, they almost regained the lead, but goalkeeper Janice Xuereb had to come out and intelligently block the Gozitan's effort.

On the 87th minute, Birkirkara suffered yet another draw back when they ended playing with ten players as Maryrose Cardona was sent off for hitting an opponent.

With Gozo clearing into safety in every chance they got, the Stripes were left with little time remaining to make any sort of attack in the remaining minutes.

The referee's full time whistle found Birkirkara denied from being awarded for their efforts as football and luck does not always favours the brave.

BIRKIRKARA: Janice Xuereb, Kelly Agius Pace, Raina Giusti (75' Kelly Groves), Yasmeen Vella, Kirstie Vella, Stephania Farrugia, Kim Parnis, Gabriella Zahra, Alishia Sultana, Maryrose Cardona, Rachel Cuschieri (23' Simone Buttigieg) (45' Isabelle Mazzitelli).

GOZO: Melania Bajada, Fabienne Vella, Felicienne Mercieca, Joselina Gafa, Modyann Refalo, Rita Azzopardi, Annmarie Said, Rebecca Bajada, Emma Xuereb, Tracy Theuma.

Yellow Cards: 81' Kelly Agius Pace (Birkirkara) 68' Annmarie Said (Mosta)

Red Cards: 87' Maryrose Cardona (Birkirkara)

Scorers: 50' Kim Parnis (Birkirkara), 10' Tracy Theuma (Gozo).

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