Women's Team edge out Gozo and remain on top

by Ayrton Galea - 16th April 2014

Birkirkara FC Women's Team kept their hopes of winning their third consecutive title alive, as they remained joined leaders of the BOV Women's First Division League, when on Tuesday evening goals by Rachel Cuschieri and Raina Giusti gave them a 2-0 victory.

The Stripes' gave a superior display to their opponents and registered their fifth straight victory.

The match opened on a balanced note, but Gozo were unable to make a reaction after Rachel Cuschieri pus the Stripes ahead, before Raina Giusti added the second a one minute inside the second half.

With just one match to go, the possibility of a decider looks highly likely, after Birkirkara defeated Gozo and Hibernians defeated Mgarr Untied, both with an identical score of 2-0.

Johann Scicluna, the Birkirkara's Coach opted for an offensive 4-3-3 formation and he made two changes from their last impressive 5-0 victory over Hibernians, as Kirstie Vella replaced Maryrose Cardona while Yasmeen Vella replaced Kim Parnis.

Stephania Farrugia and Yasmeen Vella started the match in the heart of the Birkirkara four-line defence, while Kelly Agius Pace and Kirstie Vella patrolled the wing backs. Gabriella Zahra, Rebecca Chircop and Martina Cilia formed the midfield department, and the attack featured the tried and trusted trio of Alishia Sultana, Raina Giusti and Rachel Cuschieri.

The First Half

Birkirkara struggled to settle in the opening minutes but they managed to threaten first, when the match was just seven minutes old. Rachel Cuschieri showed great vision to supply an excellent through-ball in the direction of the speeding Raina Giusti, but goalkeeper Dorienne Grech rushed out and cleared into safety.

Birkirkara got their nose in front on the fourteenth minute, when Rachel Cuschieri's in-swinging free-kick surprised goalkeeper Dorienne Grech following a slight deflection.

One goal ahead, the Stripes were showing clear signs of superiority but they were struggling to penetrate the third end. On the other hand, Gozo were opting to pack their midfield department as they sought not to give an inch to the tireless Birkirkara midfielders.

Rachel Cuschieri threatened to double Birkirkara's lead midway of the first half, when she had another dangerous in-swinging free-kick ending just over the bar.

Just past the hour-mark, The Stripes had another scoring opportunity, when off a cross from the back, Raina Giusti raced forward but her conclusion ended over.

Ten minutes from half-time, Rachel Cuschieri sent a brilliant cross in the direction of an unmarked Alishia Sultana, but her effort ended over from close range.

Birkirkara were unlucky not to double their lead just one minute later, when Raina Giusti hit a brilliant shot that surprised the Gozitian goalkeeper but the ball smashed against the crossbar. Two minutes later, Giusti was unlucky once again when her shot from inside the box scratched past the upright.

The Stripes might have been superior but the Birkirkara Coach sought to increase the team's performance with the inclusion of Kim Parnis five minutes from half-time, as she replaced Kirstie Vella. This change led to some tactical adjustment as Alishia Sultana took Kirstie's defensive role while Parnis was included in midfield.

The end of the first half found the Stripes struggling to reach their usual level, but on the plus side they headed to their dressing room leading by one.

The Second Half

Just one minute inside the second half, Birkirkara doubled the lead. Kim Parnis sent an excellent through-ball in direction of Raina Giusti, who raced forward and had a routine task of slotting past the onrushing goalkeeper Grech.

In the next notable action, Kim Parnis headed wide off a Gabriella Zahra free-kick from the left.

Gozo made their reaction ten minutes into the second half, when Annmarie Said tried her luck with a shot from outside the box, but her effort ended wide.

Johann Scicluna made the second change of the day on the hour mark, when he withdrew forward Raina Giusti who had suffered a knock earlier on, and she was replaced by Maryrose Cardona.

Rachel Cuschieri had a shot from distance blocked by a defender on the sixty-fifth minute, and off the rebound, Martina Cilia had her shot parried by the Gozitan goalkeeper.

Moments later, Cuschieri produced an eye catching solo action, when she dribbled past two players, but her strike ended mere inches over the bar.

Close to the seventeenth minute, Gabriella Zahra almost made them three when she won possession off a short back-pass. Zahra raced forward but her shot ended over.

The Birkirkara Coach made his third substitution on the seventy-second minute when Kelly Agius Pace was replaced by Chantal Fenech. Ten minutes later, Alishia Sultana was replaced by Charlene Schembri.

With Gozo two down and out of the equation, Birkirkara found an easy task to control their two-goal lead. Late in the match they went close to adding their third goal but a Gozitan defender managed to clear off the goal-line five minutes from time.

Naomi Mizzi made her debut in the BOV Women's First Division League when she was included off Martina Cilia, two minutes from time.

The referee's full-time whistle found the Stripes on top of the table with just one match to go. Birkirkara will face Mgarr United next Monday. If both Birkirkara and Hibernians win their matches, a decider will decide the title issue.

BIRKIRKARA: Janice Xuereb, Yasmeen Vella, Stephania Farrugia, Kirstie Vella (40' Kim Parnis) Kelly Agius Pace (72' Chantal Fenech), Gabriella Zahra, Rebecca Chircop, Martina Cilia (90' Naomi Mizzi), Alishia Sultana (82' Chantal Fenech), Raina Giusti (60' Maryrose Cardona).

GOZO: Dorienne Grech, Claudette Xuereb, Melania Bajada, Nicole Bttigieg, Feliecienne Mercieca, Emma Xuereb, Annmarie Said, Chantelle Grech, Tracy Theuma, Rebecca Bajada, Samantha Vella.

Scorers: 14' Rachel Cuschieri, 46' Raina Giusti.

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