Birkirkara Women's Team hit seven past Hamrun for a perfect start

by Ayrton Galea - 26th September 2012

Five goals in the second half paved the way for Birkirkara to a very comfortable victory when yesterday evening they defeated Hamrun Spartans with a 7-0 score.

Birkirkara dominated right from the start but they could not manage to take the lead, before the Birkirkara Coach included three players. Once they gained the lead, they never looked back.

Rachel Cuschieri was included as a substitute in the first half and she turned out to be the heroine for Birkirkara, netting a hat-trick and making two assists.

Coach Johann Scicluna made several changes from the Super Cup final played two weeks ago. Nina Dimech, Isabelle Mazzitelli, Rosanne Xerri, Simone Buttigieg, Alishia Sultana and Dorcas Debono replaced Janice Xuereb, Kirstie Vella, Maryrose Cardona, Chantal Fenech, Rachel Cuschieri and Kelly Agius Pace.

The First Half

In the first action of the match for Birkirkara, from a perfect pass by Kim Parnis, Isabelle Mazzitelli had a fine shot saved by goalkeeper Camilleri on the 3rd minute. Two minutes later, Kim Parnis tried her luck with a long distance shot which was easily saved by the goalkeeper.

Simone Buttigieg served Gabriella Zahra on the 7th minute, and her shot from outside the box saved was by the goalkeeper.

Kim Parnis sent a ball towards Dorcas Debobno which was a bit too long for the striker to reach and Camilleri managed to eliminate the danger on the 9th minute.

Another long distance shot by Kim Parnis on the 11th minute, ended wide. A minute later, a shot by Stephania Farrugia from inside the box was blocked by a defender.

A diagonal powerful free-kick by Gabriella Zahra on the 17th minute was punched away with difficulty by goalkeeper Camilleri and cleared into safety.

Dorcas Debono could have done better on the 20th minute when from an ideal position, she sent the ball too far ahead and the goalkeeper came out to eliminate the danger.

Kim Parnis continued to try her luck with long distance shots, and her effort ended wide on the 23rd minute. Hardly a minute later, the same player had another long distance shot ending wide.

On the 25th minute, a long distance free-kick by Kim Parnis ended wide.

Johann Scicluna was not happy with the failure to score, and made three substitions. Rachel Cuschieri, Kelly Agius Pace and Raina Giusti replaced Alishia Sultana, Dorcas Debono and Simone Buttigieg on the 34th minute.

The effect of these substitutions was immediate as Kelly Agius Pace almost put Birkirkara in the lead on the 35th minute after being well served by Gabriella Zahra.

Kelly Agius Pace was effective once again on the 37th minute. Rachel Cuschieri began the action with a solo action rounding no less than four players, serving Isabelle Mazzitelli who passed to Kelly Agius Pace whose shot from inside the box ended wide by inches.

Birkirkara took the much awaited lead on the 37th minute. Off a perfect corner by Rachel Cuschieri, Kim Parnis headed home.

Kelly Agius Pace continued to torment the Hamrun's defence and following rounding a player, her diagonal shot was saved by goalkeeper Camilleri on the 40th minute.

Gabriella Zahra almost made them two on the 41st minute. From a short corner, Rachel Cuschieri passed to Raina Giusti who gave the ball back to Cuschieri whose perfect cross was hit by a first timer effort by Gabriella Zahra. However her shot hit the outside of the net.

Rachel Cuschieri made them two on the 43rd minute. A back pass by the Hamrun defence inside the box, was whistled as a foul. Kim Parnis touched the ball and Rachel Cushcieri placed the ball in the right side of the net.

Gabriella sent a perfect ball in direction of Isabelle Mazzitelli on the 45th minute but goalkeeper Camilleri rushed out to stop the attack.

The first half was dominated entirely by Birkirkara, with 'The Stripes' goalkeeper hardly touching the ball. They ended the first forty five minutes with a two goal advantage.

The Second Half

Birkirkara quickly made them three as on the 46th minute, a direct free-kick by Rachel Cuschieri gave the goalkeeper no chance. A goal which removed any doubt where the three points were going.

Isabelle Mazzitelli's cross surprised the goalkeeper on the 53rd minute but she managed to save in two attempts.

Rachel Cuschieri sent a perfect ball towards Kelly Agius Pace on the 54th minute but the latter's effort was saved by the goalkeeper.

A long distance shot by Kim Parnis ended wide on the 56th minute.

In the fourth substitution for Birkirkara on the 57th minute, Kirstie Vella was included instead of Yasmeen Vella.

Birkirkara made them four, and Rachel completed her hat trick on the 58th minute, as this time she scored from a wonderful direct corner kick.

Birkirkara almost made them five thanks to another corner kick when on the 65th minute a fine corner by Rachel was headed well by Kim Parnis which ended over the bar.

Rachel Cuschieri served well Kelly Agius Pace on the 66th minute with the latter controlling the ball before her shot was saved by the goalkeeper in two attempts.

Hamrun seemed that they could not handle Birkirkara's perfect corner kicks. Off a corner kick from the right, Stephania Farrugia headed past the goalkeeper on the 69th minute to make them five.

A minute later five became six from another corner kick. Rachel Cuschieri's first post corner hit the defender and ended in the net for a lucky goal.

A diagonal shot by Isabelle Mazzitelli was saved by the goalkeeper on the 73rd minute.

In the fifth substitution for Birkirkara, Sacha Camilleri replaced Rosanne Xerri on the 74th minute.

A long distance shot by Gabriella Zahra on the 76th minute ended wide. Gabriella was in action was once again hitting a first timer on the 79th minute off a cross from the right.

Rachel Cuschieri tried her luck with a long distance shot on the 82nd minute which was punched away by goalkeeper. From the rebound, Isabelle Mazzitelli's effort ended wide.

Kim Parnis continued to shoot from a long distance and another effort ended wide on the 83rd minute.

Kelly Agius Pace was denied Birkirkara's seventh goal when her header was deflected, hit the post to end in a corner kick, five minutes from the end.

Birkirkara made them seven on the 88th minute when Gabriella Zahra served Kelly Agius Pace who advanced, served Isabelle Mazzitelli and hit home from close range.

The full time whistle saw Birkirkara opening their title defence in style, and with an encouraging victory. They will be involved in the next match against rivals and main title challengers Mosta in the next match which will be played on 14th October.

BIRKIRKARA: Nina Dimech, Rosanne Xerri (74' Sacha Camilleri), Yasmeen Vella (57' Kirstie Vella), Stephania Farrugia, Isabelle Mazzitelli, Kim Parnis, Gabriella Zahra, Martina Cilia, Simone Buttigieg (34' Raina Giusti), Alishia Sultana (34' Rachel Cuschieri), Dorcas Debono (34' Kelly Agius Pace).

HAMRUN SPARTANS: Kareen Camilleri, Zuleika Azzopardi, Charlene Schembri, Amanda Buhagiar, Nikita Hili, Tania Vella, Kimberly Micallef, Amanda Muscat, Amanda Atkins, Christine Galea, Claudette Xuereb.

Scorers: 37' Kim Parnis, 43' Rachel Cuschieri, 46' Rachel Cuschieri, 58' Rachel Cuschieri, 69' Stephania Farrugia, 70' Own Goal, 88' Isabelle Mazzitelli.

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