Women's Team complete comeback to win Super Cup

by Ayrton Galea - 26th September 2017

Birkirkara FC Women's Team started the new season 2017-2018 on a high when they defeated Hibernians FC with a 3-2 score, to win the BOV Women's Super Cup. The Stripes are now the holders of all three cups that Women's Football offer.

The Stripes won the first honour of the new season when they produced a remarkable second-half comeback to defeat Hibernians and win the BOV Women's Super Cup for the first time in seven years. This was Birkirkara's fourth Super Cup after they had won it in 2005, 2008 and 2010.

This honour meant the perfect domestic debut for Coach Melania Bajada. On the other hand, Jelena Sakic made her first appearance with the Stripes, while fourteen year old Veronique Mifsud made her debut with the Senior Team as she was included as a second-half substitute.

It was a match of two halves as Hibernians were the better side in the first-half and they leaded the first half with a 2-1 score. However, the Stripes were a transformed side in the second half as they were superior for most of the second half to complete a remarkable comeback.

The First Half

The Stripes were forced to face an uphill struggle as Hibernians took the lead after eighth minutes. Mariah Sciberras floored Emma Xuereb inside the box and the referee ordered the penalty. From the spot, Ylenia Carabott made no mistake.

Birkirkara made an instant comeback and equalised five minutes later. Tracy Teuma delivered an accurate curling corner kick and Stephania Farrugia hit home from inside the box, past goalkeeper Rita Tagliaferro.

Hibernians regained the lead on the twenty-eighth minute, as the Stripes failed to find their feet. Shona Zammit did well to time her run to get behind the defence before her fine shot beat goalkeeper Janice Xuereb.

The Second Half

Coach Melania Bajada seemed to have delivered a motivational speech during the half-time, as the Stripes went out the second half with all guns blazing. They were quick to put Hibernians under pressure as the Stripes stepped-up their tempo.

Birkirkara deservingly got the equalising goal on the hour mark. Raina Giusti delivered a curling corner kick that surprised the Hibernians goalkeeper who deflected the ball into her own net.

The Stripes were now all over their opponents and they completed the comeback on the sixty-eighth minute. It was a wonderful solo-goal by Raina Giusti who dashed inside the middle before hitting a thunderous strike from outside the box that gave the goalkeeper no chance.

Hibernians were stunned and they failed to make a reaction. Birkirkara held strong to their lead to win the first honour of this season.

BIRKIRKARA: Janice Xuereb, Gabriella Zahra, Ann-Marie Said, Kim Parnis, Stephania Farrugia, Mariah Sciberras (Michela Felice), Tracy Teuma, Alishia Sultana, Raina Giusti (Sarah Urpani), Yasmeen Vella, Jelena Sakic (Veronique Mifsud).

Scorers: 13' Stephania Farrugia, 60' Own Goal – Rita Tagliaferro, 68' Raina Giusti (Birkirkara), 8' Ylenia Carabott, 28' Shona Zammit (Hibernians).

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