Women U19: Birkirkara FC 3-0 Mgarr United FC

by Ayrton Galea - 4th March 2018

Birkirkara FC Women Under-19's Team started their commitments in Section A of the Women Under-19's League with a fine 3-0 victory over Mgarr United FC. All three goals arrived in the second half thanks to a brace by Mariah Sciberras and another goal by Kaycee Micallef.

The Stripes dictated matters for long stretches, but they were unable to break the dead-lock in the first half. However, Kaycee Micallef put the Stripes ahead just two minutes inside the second half and the Stripes wrapped-up the victory with another two goals by Mariah Sciberras.

The First Half

The Stripes made their intentions clear right from the start. Samantha Zarb, back in the fray after missing the last match, supplied an excellent through-ball towards Sarah Urpani who controlled the ball well, but fired over from inside the box.

Birkirkara went close again on the twenty-first minute. Defender Nicole Zammit did well to win possession and was quick to serve Zarb before the latter struck a wonderful shot from distance that was saved by goalkeeper Patricia Ebejer in two attempts.

The Mgarr United goalkeeper produced a brilliant save on the twenty-third minute to deny the Stripes the opening goal. Substitute Kaycee Micallef served Veronique Mifsud inside the box and the Birkirkara playmaker saw her well-placed shot saved by an amazing save of Ebejer.

Mgarr United threatened goalkeeper Anthea Enriquez for the first time after thirty-minutes as Maia Deobono's long-distance free-kick was easily saved by the Birkirkara goalkeeper. Four minutes later, Angelique Schembri dashed down the right flank but her shot ended wide.

Mariah Sciberras was advanced in a forward position and almost struck the opening goal five minutes from half-time, but her shot from distance scratched past the post, as the first-half ended goal-less.

The Second Half

The Stripes took just two minutes of the second half to break the dead-lock. Sciberras was floored inside the box by goalkeeper Patricia Ebejer, but the referee gave the Stipes the advantage and Kaycee Micallef hit home into an empty net. Ebejer was shown the yellow-card for her foul.

Birkirkara deservingly doubled the lead on the sixty-eighth minute. Captain Sarah Urpani produced a wonderful solo-action that saw her dribbling past three defenders before her shot was blocked by Ebejer. The rebound fell to the path of Mariah Sciberras who fired home from inside the box.

Urpani was unlucky not to crown her five-star performance by putting her name on the scoring-sheet on the seventy-third minute, but her shot from a tight-angle was denied by the post.

The Stripes added further gloss on their victory with the third goal just before the full-time whistle. Urpani produced another dazzling round before serving Sciberras inside the box and her well-placed low shot beat Ebejer.

BIRKIRKARA: Anthea Enriquez, Jessica Farrugia Cross, Nicole Zammit, Mariah Cardona, Mariah Sciberras, Veronique Mifsud (75' Sarah Cassar), Samantha Zarb, Sarah Urpani, Emma Bonnici (17' Kaycee Micallef).

Yellow Cards: 43' Patricia Ebejer (Mgarr United).

Scorers: 42' Kaycee Micallef, 68', 80' Mariah Sciberras.

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