Glasgow City too strong for Birkirkara FC in UWCL
by Ayrton Galea - 10th August 2013
Birkirkara suffered their second heavy-defeat in the UEFA Women's Champions League as this afternoon, the Stripes were trashed by Glasgow City with a 9-0 score.
For the second consecutive match, the Stripes' opponents proved to be too strong for them, as once again, the scores speaks for itself how Glasgow enjoyed a total domination over the Maltese Champions.
Nine goals, and five times hitting the woodwork, Glasgow proved to be favourites to advance from the group, with Twente, the other challengers to advance to the round of 32, who take on Osijek this evening.
Besides the heavy-defeat, it was a day to forget for the Stripes as they unluckily had two players injured as Rachel Cuschieri suffered a knee injury while Kim Parnis also had to be replaced following an ankle injury.
Despite the heavy defeat, and everything else that went against the Stripes, one should praise the players' effort as once again they played their hearts out, and although they were outgunned, they never threw in the towel and kept fighting for every single ball till the last whistle.
Women's Coach, Mr. Johann Scicluna kept faith in his first-eleven as he made no changes in his starting selection from the match against Twente FC.
The Stripes' signing this Summer Transfer Window, Rebecca Chircop made her official debut with the Club after being included as a substitute in the first half. She arrived in Holland to join the team a few hours before kick-off.
The First Half
Having conceded an early goal in the match against Twente, the Stripes opened this match on a better note, as they started concentrated right from the start.
However, Glasgow also went out with all guns blazing and they quickly put the Stripes under pressure. On the 11th minute mark, Ciara Barnes created the City's first scoring opportunity but her effort was saved by goalkeeper Janice Xuereb.
Glasgow were denied from surging ahead by lack of luck on the 15 minutes. Following a corner kick taken by Leanne Crichton, Suzanne Lappin's effort hit the woodwork.
Leanne Crichton was in action once again on the 17th minute by creating another scoring opportunity for Glasgow, but her effort on goal missed the target.
With Glasgow dominating the early stages following settling down, it was little or no surprise that they surged ahead on the 19 minutes thanks to Suzanne Lappin who placed the ball at the back of the net from inside the box.
The Stripes once again found it hard to settle down after conceding the goal, as just four minutes later, Glasgow doubled the lead. Kirstie Vella handled the ball inside the box, and the referee ordered the penalty kick. From the eleven metres, Ruesha Littlejohn converted.
Just two minutes later, Glasgow were denied from making them three, as on the 25th minute, it was Littlejohn who was in action once again, but her strike was unlucky to hit the woodwork which was Glasgow's second one in ten minutes.
The lack of luck for Glasgow's side was playing an essential role as just two minutes later, Glasgow hit the woodwork once again, this time by Suzanne Lappin.
Suzanne Lappin was in action once again on the 29th minute but this time, her effort on goal missed the target.
The first thirty minutes proved to be difficult for the Maltese Champions, as after conceding the first goal, they were outclassed by the Scottish Champions as they doubled the lead and hit the woodwork twice.
Suzanne Lappin was being a constant torment for the Stripes' rear-guard. On the 34th minute another shot on goal by Glasgow's captain missed the target.
With Glasgow taking total control of the match, the Stripes were finding it hard to deal with the strong City side and they conceded the third goal nine minutes from half time. Leanne Cricthton served Ciara Barnes whose strike managed to beat Xuereb to put the result beyond any doubt.
Having sensed his team's difficulty to deal with Glasgow's aggressive play, Birkirkara's Coach, Mr. Johann Scicluna made his first substitution on the 39th minute as he withdrew Isabelle Mazzitelli and included Rebecca Chircop to make her official debut with our Club.
However, Chircop's change failed to have an immediate effect on the team, as three minutes from half-time, Glasgow made them four. A series of three passes were concluded with Lisa Robertson serving Suzanne Malone who saw her shot from inside the box hitting past a helpless Xuereb.
The first forty-five minutes proved to be too tough for the Maltese Champions as the referee's half-time whistle found the Stripes losing with a 4-0 score against the Scottish's powerhouse of Glasgow City.
The Second Half
With the three points in the bag, Glasgow City made use of all three substitutions during the half-time interval. Leanne Crichton was replaced with Leanne Ross, Ruesha Littlejohn was replaced with Denise O'Sullivan and Suzanne Lapping was replaced with Alexander Lee.
One should mention that Alexander Lee was included as a goalkeeper, and Danica Dalziel was advanced from a goaler to a forward position in unusual move in football.
The Stripes went out on a more aggressive note, and three minutes in the second half, they created their first opportunity. Rachel Cuschieri's free-kick found Gabriella Zahra whose effort was saved by goalkeeper Danica Palziel.
Glasgow replied with their first scoring opportunity in the second half on the 51st minute, as a corner by substitute Leanne Ross found Lisa Robertson, but her header missed the target.
Janice Xuereb denied Glasgow from their fifth goal by an excellent save, as on the 54th minute Lisa Robertson's powerful effort on goal was tipped off the crossbar by Xuereb who turned the effort into a corner kick.
Three minutes later, Glasgow were dangerous thanks to another corner. Ross' corner kick found Sarah Crilly but her header missed the target.
Four began five on the hour mark. Cheryl Gallagher served Sarah Crilly whose effort hit past goalkeeper Xuereb.
On the 64th minute, Glasgow remained aggressive, and they continued to pile up more pressure on Birkirkara's rear-guard in order to continue increasing the lead. Suzanne Malone had an effort on goal, but goalkeeper Xuereb performed a save to neutralise Malone's attempt.
With the match already being worse than difficult, the Stripes had to face yet another drawback. On the 69th minute, Mr. Johann Scicluna had to make a forced substitution as Rachel Cuschieri was unable to continue playing due to a knee injury and she was replaced by Raina Giusti.
Glasgow continued to increase the lead on the 69th minute as they made them six. Unmarked, and all alone Sarah Crilly found no problem to place the ball at the back of the net to score her second personal goal and Glasgow's sixth one.
If lack of luck hit Glasgow in the first-half, in the second forty-five minutes, it was the Stripes that had to suffer from this element, as they were forced to make yet another substitution. Kim Parnis suffered an ankle injury seventeen minutes from time, and she was replaced by Charlene Schembri.
On the 74th minute, substitute Leanne Ross had an effort on goal but her strike missed the target. Three minutes later, Suzanne Malone had the same luck of Ross as her effort on goal also missed the target.
Glasgow remained all over the Stripes, and they hardly gave the Maltese Champions any chance to get out of their own half. On the 79th minute, substitute Denise O' Sullivan saw her effort saved by goalkeeper Xuereb.
A minute later, Glasgow were denied from making them seven as Leanne Ross hit the woodwork, the fourth time for Glasgow, before the ball was cleared into a corner kick.
From the resulting corner kick, Leanne Ross' shot saw Lisa Robertson rising high but her header missed the target.
Six became seven on the 84th minute as Glasgow scored their seventh goal. Cheryl Gallagher served Danica Dalziel whose shot from inside the box beat goalkeeper Xuereb.
The Stripes had little time to settle as Glasgow made them eight just three minutes later. Once again, Cheryl Gallagher performed the assist before substitute Leanne Ross unleashed a powerful strike from the edge of the box who hit hard past Xuereb.
Glasgow were not satisfied yet and on the 94th minute, they hit the the Stripes with the ninth goal as Sarah Crilly completed the hat-trick and sealed the issue.
BIRKIRKARA: Janice Xuereb, Isabelle Mazzitelli (39' Rebecca Chircop), Kelly Agius Pace, Yasmeen Vella, Kirstie Vella, Stephania Farrugia, Kim Parnis (73' Charlene Schembri), Gabriella Zahra, Alishia Sultana, Maryrose Cardona, Rachel Cuschieri (69' Raina Giusti).
GLASGOW: Danica Dalziel, Lisa Robertson, Danielle Pagliarulo, Leanne Crichton (45' Leanne Ross), Ruesha Littlejohn (45' Denise O'Sullivan), Suzanne Lappin (45' Alexander Lee), Suzanne Malone, Cheryl Gallagher, Sarah Crilly, Ciara Barnes, Julie Nelson.
Yellow Cards: 20' Stephania Farrugia (Birkirkara)
Scorers: 19' Suzanne Lappin, 23' Ruesha Littlejohn, 36' Ciara Barnes, 42' Suzanne Malone, 60' Sarah Crilly, 69' Sarah Crilly, 84' Danica Dalziel, 87' Leanne Ross, 94' Sarah Crilly.
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