Women's Team outclass Pembroke Athleta
by Ayrton Galea - 28th January 2016
Birkirkara FC Women's Team returned to winning ways in style, when in a one-sided match of the BOV Women's First Division League, Raina Giusti netted a hat-trick while Gabriella Zahra, Stephania Farrugia and Catherine Campbell scored a goal each in a 6-1 win over bottom placed Pembroke Athleta FC.
The Stripes did not have to break much of a sweat to overcome the challenge of Pembroke Athleta. Coach Portanier's side opened a comfortable four goal lead in the first half, and added another two goals in the second half before Pembroke scored a consolation goal.
Club's top scorer Raina Giusti, alongside Gabriella Zahra, stole the limelight. Giusti netted a hat-trick and gave two assists, while Zahra had another commanding performance in the heart of midfield, and the box-to-box tireless player also put her name on the scoring-sheet besides providing two assists.
With this win, the Stripes consolidated their second place and returned to winning ways after the defeat against Hibernians and the disappointing draw against Mgarr United. Birkirkara remain eighth points under Hibernians, but are now nine points over third placed Mgarr United.
Coach Jean Pierre Portanier made three changes from the 1-1 draw against Mgarr United. Goalkeeper Nina Dimech replaced Janice Xuereb between the posts. Under-16's Team player Sarah Urpani was handed her first start, while Alishia Sultana made returned from injury, and they replaced Kelly Agius Pace and Melissa Stickland, with the latter having returned to England due to personal reasons.
The Stripes fielded a 4-4-1-1 formation. Dimech defended the posts with Yasmeen Vella and Stephania Farrugia as centre-backs while Mariah Sciberras and Melania Bajada started on the sides. Gabriella Zahra led with the midfield with Kim Parnis while Sarah Urpani and Alishia Sultana patrolled the wings. Catherine Campbell took her usual role of roaming behind the striker on the day, Raina Giusti.
The First Half
The Stripes surged ahead after just one minute. It was Gabriella Zahra who did all the work with a remarkable solo action, that saw her advancing forward before her powerful shot surprised goalkeeper Baldaccinho.
Birkirkara made them two on the fifteenth minute. Gabriella Zahra was once again instrumental, as she sent an accurate pass to Raina Giusti, who advanced forward and placed the ball behind the Pembroke goalkeeper.
The Stripes remained in command and they could have added their third goal on the twenty-second minute. Raina Giusti advanced forward and she raced behind the defenders, but her powerful volley was well saved by Baldaccinho.
The match continued to be one-way, and on the twenty-eighth minute, Birkirkara scored the third goal. Kim Parnis lobbed the ball over the Pembroke defence and Raina Giusti beat the offside trap to race forward to anticipate goalkeeper Baldaccinho, before slotting the ball in an empty net.
With the Stripes leading by three, Coach Portanier opted to rest Alishia Sultana, and on the half-hour mark, Isabelle Mazzitelli took her place.
The Stripes made them four ten minutes from half-time. Raina Giusti delivered a second-post accurate corner kick that saw Stephania Farrugia making a perfect run to head the ball powerfully past goalkeeper Baldaccinho.
The Second Half
The Stripes registered a perfect start as they took forty-five seconds to add the fifth goal. Raina Giusti dribbled past three players, before serving an unmarked Catherine Campbell who controlled the ball and easily placed the ball at the back of the net.
Birkirkara threatened to increase the lead close to the hour mark when Campbell served Raina Giusti who dribbled past her marker but her shot was saved by an alert goalkeeper Baldaccinho. Moments later, Gabriella Zahra had a powerful drive ending over.
The Stripes made them six on the sixty-third minute. Goalkeeper Nina Dimech served Gabriella Zahra, who showed great vision to pass to Raina Giusti. Giusti dribbled all the way forward to have her first shot blocked by the goalkeeper, but from the rebound she netted the ball.
Twenty minutes into the second half, Mr. Portanier made the second substitution, as Yasmeen Vella was replaced by Charlene Schembri, while four minutes later, in an unusual move, the Birkirkara Coach included goalkeeper Janice Xuereb, as a player and she replaced Sarah Urpani. Kelly Agius Pace replaced Gabriella Zahra.
Pembroke scored a consolation goal twenty minutes from time, from free-kick from midfield, Leanne Micallef showed great ability to lob the ball over goalkeeper Nina Dimech.
Five minutes from time, Raina Giusti delivered an accurate second-post corner kick in the path of Janice Xuereb, and the latter was close to score her first goal but her header ended just over the bar.
Four minutes from time, in Birkirkara's fifth and last substitution, Mr. Portanier handed the debut to Maria Fenech, who forms part of the Girls Under-16's Team, as she replaced another player from the Under-16's Team, Mariah Sciberras.
The referee's full-time whistle found the Stripes returning to winning ways. They will be involved in the next match against Hibernians, on Tuesday 17 February.
BIRKIRKARA: Nina Dimech, Mariah Sciberras (86' Maria Fenech), Stephania Farrugia, Yasmeen Vella (65' Charlene Schembri), Melania Bajada, Gabriella Zahra (69' Kelly Agius Pace), Kim Parnis, Catherine Campbell, Sarah Urpani (69' Janice Xuereb), Alishia Sultana (30' Isabelle Mazzitelli), Raina Giusti.
Scorers: 1' Gabriella Zahra, 15' Raina Giusti, 28' Raina Giusti, 40' Stephania Farrugia, 46' Catherine Campbell, 63' Raina Giusti (Birkirkara) 70' Leanne Micallef (Pembroke).
comments powered by Disqus
