Women's Team complete memorable treble

by Ayrton Galea - 17th May 2018

Birkirkara FC Women's Team completed a domestic sweep in all three cups of Women's Football for Season 2017-2018, when they finished their season in style by clinching the Women's Knock-Out after beating Mgarr United FC after the penalty shoot-out.

The Stripes completed a famous treble for their first time in eight years after the team had completed this impressive domestic sweep back in 2010. This was the second time in history that the team won all three honours that Women's football offers.

Coach Melania Bajada, who was appointed as the new team's Coach in the beginning of the season, will go down in history as the youngest Coach as well as the first woman Coach that completed this achievement.

The First Half

Both teams made their intentions clear to notice right from the start. Abigail Camilleri headed over a corner kick from the right, while on the other side of the pitch, Stephania Farrugia's long-distance drive hit the crossbar.

The Stripes went close to break the dead-lock. In fast break-away, Alishia Sultana put the on-running Tracy Teuma through down the right flank, before the latter's low cross found Veronique Mifsud who saw her effort from inside the box ending wide by a whisker.

The Second Half

Mgarr United broke the dead-lock on the sixty-third minute. Claudette Xuereb's first-time effort was denied by the crossbar, but from the resulting loose-ball, the same player blasted home. The Mgarr United clan, backed by their numerous supporters, erupted in joy.

Birkirkara made the score level eight minutes later. Tracy Teuma showed great dribbling skills to get past the Mgarr United defender before her low cross was deflected by the Mgarr United defender into her own net.

The Extra Time

The Stripes were unlucky not to take the lead. Alishia Sultana sped forward before rounding goalkeeper Rachel Borg, but her effort was cleared off the goal-line by Charlene Cassia.

The same luck, or the lack of it, denied the Stripes again just few moments later. From a well taken corner kick by Teuma, a loose ball fell to the path of Kim Parnis whose first-time shot was cleared off the goal-line again.

Penalty Shoot-Out

Gabriella Zahra, Samantha Zarb, Tracy Teuma and Kim Parnis all converted their penalty kicks, while goalkeeper Janice Xuereb saved two kicks as the Stripes won the penalty shoot-out to complete a memorable treble.

BIRKIRKARA: Janice Xuereb, Samantha Zarb, Yasmeen Vella, Ann-Marie Said, Stephania Farrugia, Gabriella Zahra, Kim Parnis, Tracy Teuma, Veronique Mifsud, Raina Giusti, Alishia Sultana (65' Joselene Gafa).

Yellow Cards: Amber Grech (Mgarr United), Stephania Farrugia (Birkirkara)

Scorers: 63' Claudette Xuereb (Mgarr United), 71' Own Goal (Birkirkara).

comments powered by Disqus