Stripes end UWCL commitments with a harsh defeat
by Ayrton Galea - 13th August 2013
Birkirkara Women's Team ended their commitments in this year's UEFA Women's Champions League with another heavy defeat, as despite an encouraging performance where they even scored their first goal in this year's competition, Osijek defeated the Maltese Champions with a 7-1 score.
If in the last two matches, the score reflected the story of the match, this was a completely different story as a 7-1 score is too much harsh with the Maltese Champions who performed a fine performance which earned them sharing the play with their opponents, at least for the first seventy-five minutes.
After performing an encouraging performance in the first half, the Stripes went out confident in the second half, but two goals in quick succession seemed to dash the Stripes' hopes before narrowing the goal twenty minutes from time. However, after Osijek regained their three-goal lead, the story was completely over for the Stripes as the Croatians champions took total control and trashed the Stripes in the final minutes.
For the third and last match, Women's Coach Mr. Johann Scicluna opted for a more offensive formation as he went out with the trendy 3-5-2 formation with Maryrose Cardona and Alishia Sultana forming the attacking department.
In the only change made by Mr. Scicluna, Rebecca Chircop replaced Isabelle Mazzitelli. Rachel Cuschieri and Kim Parnis who had to be replaced in the last match following suffering an injury, both made it on time and were given the green light in the first-eleven selection.
This match brings to an end the Stripes' adventure in this year's UEFA Women's Champions League, where although the Stripes suffered nothing than three heavy-defeats, this will certainly gain the Stripes' player more experience and a lesson which can use in further European Competitions.
The First Half
With both teams seeking their first points in the competition, both sides went out with all their guns blazing, but it was Osijek who settled down quickly and began to pile-up pressure on the Maltese Champions.
Just after four minutes, Osijek had their first opportunity when Vanesa Zlosa had a shot blocked turned into a corner kick.
Two minutes later, the Croatians Champions went near. Kristina Nevrkla made a fine solo-action before unleashing a powerful shot but Janice Xuereb was alert to neutrilise her effort.
On the 11 minutes, Maja Joscak's freekick found Martina Salek's but her header didn't create any problem for the Stripes as her effort ended wide.
Osijek continued to seek for the opening goal on the 17 minutes, they created another scoring opportunity. Ana Jelencic tried her luck with a shot from outside the box, but Jelencic's effort ended wide.
Two minutes later, it was Martina Salek to tried her bid to put Osijek in the lead, but Salek had no different luck from Osijek's attempt as her shot missed the target.
With Osijek creating opportunity after opportunity, it was little or no surprise that they surged ahead on the 21 minutes. Martina Salek served Maja Joscak whose shot hit past goalkeeper Xuereb.
Birkirkara didn't give the towel in, and they almost grabbed a quick equalizer just three minutes later as they created a dangerous opportunity. Alishia Sultana served unmarked Rachel Cuschieri whose close-range shot from an ideal position was saved by Ivana Vrdoljak.
The Stripes continued to show better football and on the 27 minutes they were unlucky not to grab the equalizing goal when Alishia Sultana's strike was cleared off the goal-line.
However, this was Alishia's last action in the match as the Stripes suffered a draw-back two minutes later when they had to utilize their first substitution. Alishia Sultana suffered an injury, and was unable to continue playing. Promising striker Simone Buttigieg replaced Sultana.
Despite Osijek were enjoying a narrow goal lead, the Stripes weren't being outclassed. Following suffering the goal, the Maltese Champions were showing a great attitude as they were piling-up pressure in order to grab the equalising goal.
Three minutes past the half-hour, the Stripes were on the attack once again as Kelly Agius Pace had a shot blocked.
Just moments later, Osijek replied thanks to Gabrijela Gaiser but the latter's effort missed the target.
On the 37 minutes, Rachel Cuschieri tried her luck with a direct free-kick but the National's player effort was saved by goalkeeper Ivana Vrdoljak.
Five minutes from half-time, the Stripes were awarded with another free-kick. This time, Kim Parnis took in charge of the long-distance free-kick which her direct effort was easily saved by goalkeeper Vrdoljak.
Just before the half-time whistle, Maja Joscak, the decisive player so far had a fine header saved by the Stripes' goalkeeper to end the first half on the attack.
The first-half saw the Stripes ending their first forty-five minutes in a narrow disadvantage despite performing a very encouraging forty-five minutes.
The Second Half
With just forty-five minutes to go and with the Stripes playing better football in the last twenty minutes, they knew that a goal would turn the rhythm of the match in their favour.
Just two minutes in the second half, the Stripes created their first opportunity. Rachel Cuschieri sent a free-kick in the box which saw Kim Parnis rising high but her effort missed the target.
Osijek were quick to reply, and hardly a minute later they were awarded a corner kick after Violeta Bana had a shot blocked into a corner kick. From the resulting corner kick, Gabrijela Gaiser missed the target.
However, the Stripes' hopes were temporarily dashed seven minutes in the second half when Yasmeen Vella fouled Izabela Lojna inside the box. The referee ordered the penalty-kick and showed the yellow card to Vella. From the eleven metres, Violeta Baban converted.
This was a deadly-blow for the Stripes who saw their hopes of getting a positive result. To add more to their woes, Osijek made them three just two minutes later.
Substitute Mateja Andrilic served unmarked Izabela Lojna who all alone had no difficulty to place the ball past goalkeeper Janice Xuereb to put the result in a much safer place.
On the 56 minutes, Coach Mr. Johann Scicluna made his second substitution as Raina Giusti replaced Simone Buttigieg.
Just past the one-hour mark, Mateja Andrilic went on to search to increase Osijek's lead but her effort was saved by Janice Xuereb.
On the 65 minutes, scorer of the third goal, Izabela Lojna had a shot blocked, and then cleared into a corner.
The Stripes were rewarded for their efforts, even after being three goals down and twenty one minutes from time, they narrowed the gap. Gabriella Zahra hit past goalkeeper Vrdoljak to score her first international goal with our Club.
In Birkirkara's third and last substitution on the 74 minutes, Charlene Schembri replaced Maryrose Cardona.
However, the Stripes' goal was short-lived as on the 75 minutes, Osijek regained a three-goal lead as they made them four. Maja Joscak found space to hit a shot that went past Xuereb to score Osijek's fourth goal and her second personal one.
Hardly a minute later, the Stripes were once again punished for not settling down as Osijek made them five. Violeta Baban hits past Xuereb to score her second personal goal and the fifth for Osijek.
Everything was coming against the Stripes' and having seen this, Osijek adds more woes to the Stripes as they made them sixth on the 80 minutes. Maja Joscak served Izabela Lojna who saw her strike from inside the box beating Xuereb and increases the lead for Osijek.
Five minutes from time, Rachel Cuschieri for Birkirkara had a shot that missed the target.
From six became seven on the first minute of added time, as Izabela Lojna managed to score her hat-trick goal and the seventh for Osijek.
The referee's full time whistle found the Stripes ending their commitments in this year's UEFA Women's Champions League with yet another heavy-defeat which certainly didn't reflect the Stripes' performance who once again played their hearts out but was cancelled out with a harsh score.
BIRKIRKARA: Janice Xuereb, Yasmeen Vella, Stephania Farrugia, Rebecca Chircop, Kirstie Vella, Kelly Agius Pace, Kim Parnis Gabriella Zahra, Maryrose Cardona (74' Maryrose Cardona), Alishia Sultana (29' Simone Buttigieg) (56' Raina Giusti).
OSIJEK: Ivana Vrdoljak (78' Tena Pastar), Dragica Cepernic, Vanesa Zlosa (57' Mateja Bulut), Iva Culek, Kristina Nevrkla. Violeta Baban, Izabela Lojna, Gabrijela Gaiser, Ana Jelencic, Maja Joscak, Martina Salek (45' Mateja Andrilic).
Yellow Cards: 51' Yasmeen Vella (Birkirkara), 67' Ana Jelencic (Osijek)
Scorers: 69' Gabriella Zahra (Birkirkara), 21' Maja Joscak, 52' Violeta Ban, 54' Izabela Lojna, 75' Maja Joscak, 76' Violeta Baban, 80' Izabela Lojna (Osijek).
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