Extra-time goal puts Women's Team in semi-finals

by Ayrton Galea - 5th March 2015

Birkirkara FC Women's Team booked their place in the Women's Knockout Semi-Finals, when a goal by Rebecca Chircop in the extra-time period handed them a 1-0 victory over Mgarr United FC.

In a tight encounter, the Stripes once again relied on their determination and never-give-up attitude, as they scored the goal just forty-seconds into the extra-time period, and then held strong to book their place in the semi-final.

It was a match of two halves, as the first forty-five minutes saw Birkirkara struggling to settle down as Mgarr played a disciplined match. However, in the second half, the Stripes stepped-up their performance and were superior to their opponents but failed to break-through the organised Mgarr defence, and the match went into extra-time.

Thanks to this victory, the Stripes will face Hibernians in the semi-final of the Women's Knockout. Besides Hibernians, Birkirkara joined Raiders FC and Sliema Wanderers FC in the semi-finals, with the latter registering a surprise victory over Pembroke Athleta FC.

Kim Parnis is ruled-out for the rest of the season with a serious ligaments injury. Alishia Sultana's situation also continued to complicate itself as the tireless player is struggling with a persistent injury. In the only change by Mr. Johann Scicluna, Rebecca Chircop replaced Sultana.

The Birkirkara Coach fielded a 4-2-3-1 formation. Janice Xuereb defended the posts while Yasmeen Vella and Stephania Farrugia formed the central-backs supported by Kirstie Vella and Maryrose Cardona, who patrolled the side-backs. Melania Bajada and Rebecca Chircop started in-front of the defence, supporting the midfield trio of Gabriella Zahra, Martina Cilia and Raina Giusti. Kelly Agius Pace was the Birkirkara forward on the day.

The First Half

There was a slow start to the match, with both sides utilising the opening minutes to study their opponents. The teams failed to threaten, bar a weak shot by Gabriella Zahra on the eleventh minute.

The Stripes created their first decent attempt on the sixteenth minute when Martina Cilia released Raina Giusti, who had a fine effort ending wide the of the first post. On the other side of the field, hardly a minute later, Brenda Borg had a shot saved by goalkeeper Janice Xuereb.

Birkirkara struggled and lacked inspiration. Forward Agius Pace seemed to be too isolated and the Birkirkara Coach, Mr. Johann Scicluna was quick to adjust his team's tactical position. Giusti joined Agius Pace in the Birkirkara line, while Rebecca Chircop joined the midfield in the new 4-1-3-2 formation.

Mgarr seemed to have surged ahead just past the half-hour mark, when a corner from the right created havoc inside the box, and from the following header, the ball ended into the net. However, the referee ruled-out the goal for a foul inside the box.

The match remained balanced and the referee's half-time whistle saw both teams heading to their dressing room in a goal-less draw.

The Second Half

Buoyed by the half-time team-talk by Mr. Scicluna, there was a clear improvement in the Stripes' opening stages of the second half. The Stripes were now enjoying more possession and they had an edge over their opponents.

Against the run of play, it was Mgarr who threatened first in the second half. Just before the hour mark, Brenda Borg, one of the most effective players for Mgarr, raced forward to collect a through-ball down the left channel, but her shot from inside the box missed the target.

The Stripes were quick to reply and their first-attempt came hardly a minute later. There was a rare short-clearance from the Mgarr defenders, with the ball ending in the path of Raina Giusti who struck a fierce shot which ended over the bar.

However as the match grew older, both teams were opting to cancel each other's efforts. Both goalkeepers, Janice Xuereb for Birkirkara, and Rachelle Borg for Mgarr United were hardly threatened except for some routine saves.

As the match headed into the final ten minutes, both sides threatened for the goal. Ten minutes from time, Brenda Borg supplied an excellent through-ball in the path of Nicole Buttigieg, but Xuereb showed great reflexes to block her effort. Five minutes later, the Stripes also went close with a shot by Martina Cilia, but effort was parried by goalkeeper Borg.

With both teams failing to emerge as the winner after the regular ninety-minutes, the match headed to the extra-time period.

The Extra-Time

Birkirkara surged ahead after just forty-seconds. Gabriella Zahra took charge of a free-kick from the right, and the left-footed player surprised the defence with a short first-post free-kick. Rebecca Chircop ran forward to hit past goalkeeper Borg, and the Birkirkara clan erupted with joy.

The Stripes could not have asked for a better start, and they could have scored another goal just seven minutes later. Kelly Agius Pace's run tormented the defence, before sending Raina Giusti through. Goalkeeper Borg was the protagonist in keeping her side in the match, with an excellent block and she turned the ball into a corner kick.

In the second half, Mgarr increased their efforts and they almost levelled matters six minutes into the second half. Substitute Thea Difesa's shot got past goalkeeper Xuereb but an alert Stephania Farrugia cleared the ball off the goal-line, aided by the wood-work.

In Birkirkara's first substitution six minutes from time, Kirstie Vella who once again gave a fine performance, was replaced by Mariah Sciberras.

In the final minutes, Mgarr threw the towel in, and it was the Stripes who threatened twice to double their lead. First, Bajada supplied a ball towards Agius Pace but the latter fired over. Moments later, Giusti had a shot saved by Borg in two attempts. The Stripes held strong to qualify for the semi-finals.

BIRKIRKARA: Janice Xuereb, Maryrose Cardona, Yasmeen Vella, Stephania Farrugia, Kirstie Vella (114' Mariah Sciberras), Melania Bajada, Rebecca Chircop, Martina Cilia, Gabriella Zahra, Raina Giusti, Kelly Agius Pace.

MGARR UNITED: Rachelle Borg, Rebecca D'Agostino, Yanika Fenech, Nicole Cutajar, Abigail Camilleri, Antoinette Sammut, Natasha Pace, Isabelle Mazzitelli (Thea Difesa), Nicole Buttigieg, Brenda Borg, Jamine Vella Turner.

Yellow Cards: Antoinette Sammut.

Scorers: 91' Rebecca Chircop.

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