Birkirkara hit eight past Tarxien
by Ayrton Galea - 21st November 2012
Eight goals without reply, besides hitting the post three times, was enough for everyone to appreciate Birkirkara's domination and superiority in a very comfortable victory over newly-promoted Tarxien Rainbows.
With Birkirkara desperate to return to winning ways, Tarxien might consider themselves unlucky to had to face them. Birkirkara showed no mercy to Tarxien and they hit eight past them, without any sort of reply by their outclassed opponents.
Birkirkara's strength was too much for ‘The Rainbows' as the only question left in the match was by how much Birkirkara was going to win and not if they was going to win, as Birkirkara's pressure hardly saw Tarxien going out of their own half.
One should praise all the players for this match as they managed to adjust the match all in their favour by scoring an early goal and keeping a high tempo for long stretches which gave no chance to Tarxien to create any danger, with Nina Dimech, the Birkirkara goalkeeper chosen for this match hardly touching the ball.
However, all in all, Birkirkara did what was expected from them as the current champions could not afford to drop points against newly promoted teams.
The First Half
Birkirkara made their intentions clear to notice and they started strongly in the early minutes.
Stephania Farrugia, who was given an advanced role in the midfield department tested the goalkeeper with a powerful drive after just three minutes which was saved by difficulty in two attempts by goalkeeper Grech.
Birkirkara continued to search for an early goal and they went close on the sixth minute. Kelly Agius Pace released Gabriella Zahra well on the left, with the latter's close range effort being blocked by the goalkeeper.
Gabriella and Kelly Agius Pace combined well once again and two minutes later they created another fine opportunity which almost resulted in the opening goal. Kelly Agius Pace advanced well on the right before serving Gabriella Zahra whose shot was blocked by the defender.
The opening goal was in the air and Birkirkara managed to break the dead lock on the 10th minute. Stephania Farrugia's powerful drive hit the crossbar, which was short cleared, and off the rebound, Gabriella Zahra fired a brilliant drive which gave no chance to goalkeeper Grech.
Stephania Farrugia continued to try her luck with long distance shots which were always dangerous. On the 12th minute, Stephania had another powerful long distance attempt saved by the goalkeeper.
Gabriella Zahra was close once again on the 14th minute following scoring the opening goal with a diagonal shot which ended wide by inches. Two minutes later, Raina Giusti made a fine solo run concluded with a fine shot which ended over the bar to extend Birkirkara's dominant start.
Birkirkara's superiority continued to be even more evident as they hit the post for the second time after just twenty minutes. Gabriella Zahra, who was being a continues torment on the left wing, sent a perfect cross to Raina Giusti whose powerful shot hit the left post and was then saved by Grech.
Gabriella Zahra was once again in action for 'The Stripes' as a perfect corner by Rachel Cuschieri on the 22nd minute, was met with Gabriella Zahra's powerful header but it was blocked by Grech.
In an isolated, and the first action, for Tarxien on the 24th minute, Antoinette Vella advanced on the right before concluding with a shot which was easily saved by Dimech.
Birkirkara's reply came less than a minute later. Rachel Cuschieri released Gabriella Zahra on the left before her shot ended wide on the left post.
Despite this total superiority in the first half hour of the match, Mr. Johann Scicluna did not stop from giving fresh instructions to his players to keep this high tempo. Birkirkara were still leading with just Gabriella's early goal, much to the credit of the Tarxien's goalkeeper who was having a very good match.
Martina Cilia, who produced some fine work in the midfield department, had a long distance effort blocked with difficulty by goalkeeper Grech on the half hour.
Birkirkara doubled the lead on the 31st minute as Tarxien were unlucky enough to commit an own goal following a lack of communication.
Birkirkara scored the second goal in quick succession as they made them three on the 33rd minute. Rachel Cuschieri fired a powerful drive which hit the crossbar, the third one in the match but off the rebound, Gabriella lobbed over Grech with style.
Raina Giusti produced another fine solo action on the 36th minute when she went past two defenders with her shot pushed into a corner kick by the goalkeeper.
Gabriella Zahra on the 39th minute had a fine uprising shot once again saved by Grech. Four minutes later, the National player had another fine shot saved by Grech who was making life hard for Birkirkara despite already having a three goal lead.
The first half who was dominated from start to finish by the Yellow-Reds saw them building a comfortable three goal lead which was to serve as a cushion for the second half.
The Second Half
Raina Giusti was quickly in action in the second half as following a fine solo action from the right, her diagonal shot was saved by Grech.
Rachel Cuschieri had a fine freekick two minutes in the second half pushed into a corner kick by the goalkeeper. Off the corner by Cuschieri, Gabriella's effort ended wide.
Kelly Agius Pace had a fine shot on the 49th minute saved by Grech with Birkirkara continuing where they left off in the first half when it comes to superiority and domination.
Birkirkara were awarded a penalty on the 53rd minute when Kelly Agius Pace was floored inside the box. From the eleven metres, Rachel Cuschieri made no mistake and made them four.
Rachel Cuschieri was quick to score the fifth goal for Birkirkara and her second personal one. Just two minutes after scoring the fourth goal, Rachel Cuschieri fired a powerful low shot which gave Grech no chance.
Rachel extended her streak, as just three minutes later, on the 59th minute she scored the hat-trick goal and the sixth one for 'The Stripes' thanks to a wonderful uprising shot which left Grech staring.
Mr. Johann Scicluna continued to give fresh instructions to his players, and he included Rosanne Xerri, Sacha Camilleri and Charlene Schembri for Maryrose Cardona, Kelly Agius Pace and Yasmeen Vella.
Stephania Farrugia served Raina Giusti well on the 74th minute, with the latter advancing in the box but her shot ended wide,
Kim Parnis was close to increase Birkirkara's tally one minute later when her shot from outside the box was saved by Grech who definitely caught the eye of those present.
Birkirkara made them seven on the 78th minute, when Gabriella Zahra perfectly served Rachel Cuschieri, who advanced before easily rounding the goalkeeper and slotting the ball into an empty net.
Birkirkara soon made them eight. On the 81st minute, Sacha Camilleri slotted home following a bad clearance in the box to score her first goal following a long term injury.
Following a fine action by Simone Buttigieg on the 84th minute, Sacha Camilleri had a powerful shot saved by Grech.
Birkirkara seemed to never have enough of scoring as on the 85th minute, Stephania Farrugia went close with a fine header off a corner by Cuschieri. A minute later, Rachel Cuschieri had a fine low shot saved by Grech.
The full time whistle saw Birkirkara returning to winning ways and back in the right track for the league title challenge along with Hibernians and leaders Mosta despite still at an early stage.
BIRKIRKARA: Nina Dimech, Isabelle Mazzitelli (56' Simone Buttigieg), Kim Parnis, Yasmeen Vella (73' Charlene Schembri), Maryrose Cardona (62' Rosanne Xerri), Martina Cilia, Stephania Farrugia, Gabriella Zahra (80' Kim Simler), Rachel Cuschieri, Raina Giusti, Kelly Agius Pace (68' Sacha Camilleri).
TARXIEN: Dorienne Grech, Antoinette Vella, Cheryl Cachia, Lean Marie Pisani, Chantel Spiteri, Kristine Camilleri, Meyer Yolanda, Francesca Cauchi, Kim Magro, Maria Mizzi, Roxanne Busutill.
Scorers: 10' Gabriella Zahra, 31' Own Goal, 33' Gabriella Zahra, 53' Rachel Cuschieri, 55' Rachel Cuschieri, 59' Rachel Cuschieri, 78' Rachel Cuschieri, 81' Sacha Camilleri (Birkirkara)
Yellow Cards: 68' Rachel Cuschieri (Birkirkara)
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