Women's team overcome reselient Mgarr

by Ayrton Galea - 5th December 2013

Birkirkara Women's Team had to overcome a difficult obstacle on Tuesday evening as opponents Mgarr United FC gave an excellent defensive display. However this was not enough to stop the Maltese Champions who emerged as winners with a score of 3-1.

Following Mgarr's brilliant performance against Hibernians, where the latter found it difficult to get past their rearguard, the Stripes were aware of the obstacle that they had to overcome.

The Stripes collected the three points despite not having their best of performances. However Mgarr left with heads held high, knowing that they managed to frustrate the Champions, who struggled to penetrate.

On a brighter note for the Stripes, the equalising goal instead of stunning them, served as a wake-up call. The players showed great attitude to regain the lead quickly, and they went on to seal the issue five minutes from time.

Coach Johann Scicluna kept faith in the 3-5-2 formation, and he made just one change from the comfortable 4-0 win over Gozo. Maryrose Cardona replaced the injured Tara Attard. Once again, Raina Giusti and Martina Cilia composed the attacking department.

Thanks to this victory, the Stripes ended their first round commitments in second place on fifteen points, three under leaders Hibernians FC and three over Gozo FC.

The First Half

The initial minutes set the pace for the rest of the match, as there was nothing much to separate both sides. The Stripes were quick to settle down and they sought an early opener, but Mgarr were showing resilience right from the start.

The Stripes threatened with the first match's scoring opportunity on the fifth minute. Rachel Cuschieri released Maryrose Cardona on the right flank. She drifted inside the middle of the field before serving Martina Cilia who saw her shot parried by goalkeeper Stephanie Cremona.

Mgarr did not hold back and they were quick to make a reaction. On the ninth minute, they had a diagonal shot from the right easily saved by the Birkirkara goalkeeper, Janice Xuereb.

On the fourteenth minute Raina Giusti served Rachel Cuschieri who drifted inside the box and saw her shot turned into a corner kick, thanks to a fine save by Cremona.

From the resulting corner kick, the Stripes surged ahead, on the fifteenth minute. Rachel Cuschieri's second post corner-kick created havoc inside the box. Gabriella Zahra's strike was blocked, but Martina Cilia put the ball in the net, and Birkirkara in the lead.

Mgarr, who saw their opening efforts dashed by Birkirkara's first goal, were stunned but they recovered quickly to make a reaction. On the nineteenth minute, an unmarked Abigail Camilleri could have concluded better, but her shot ended totally wide.

Birkirkara had a brilliant free-kick from distance taken by Rachel Cuschieri on the twenty-eight minute, and her powerful shot scratched past the right post.

Mgarr suffered a draw back on the twenty-eight minute. From a foul by Martina Cilia, goalkeeper Stephanie Cremona was unable to continue playing and she was replaced with Marie Claire Tabone.

Just past the half-hour, Mgarr had an excellent scoring opportunity. Off a corner kick from the right, which created chaos inside the box, Janice Xuereb performed an excellent save from a close-range effort.

Stephanie Farrugia could have doubled the Stripes' lead on the thirty-sixth minute. Rachel Cuschieri delivered a brilliant corner kick on the second post, with Farrugia heading over from an ideal position.

With both sides failing to produce any more notable action, the referee's half time whistle found Martina Cilia's goal making all the difference between the two sides.

The Second Half

The rhythm of the second half continued where it left off. The Stripes kept pushing forward, and Mgarr kept showing great resilience to annul their efforts.

The Stripes created their first scoring opportunity three minutes in the second half. Rebecca Chircop made some fine footwork before concluding her solo-action with a shot from outside the box, which was parried by the goalkeeper.

On the other side of the pitch, on the fifty-fifth minute, Mgarr threatened with a diagonal shot from the right, which was saved by an alert Janice Xuereb.

Having sensed his team struggle to penetrate, Mr. Johann Scicluna opted for a shuffle on the fifty-eight minute. He utilised his first substitution by withdrawing forward Raina Giusti and introducing Chantal Fenech, who took a defensive role. Alishia Sultana took Raina's place in the forward line.

Seven minutes later, Mgarr's effort resulted in a goal, thanks to a fine strike by Jasmine Vella Turner who beat goalkeeper Janice Xuereb on the sixty-fifth minute.

With Mgarr being rewarded for their efforts, the Stripes were faced with an up-hill struggle in the remaining twenty-five minutes.

On the seventy-first minute, the Stripes regained the lead. Off a cross from the back, Alishia Sultana's continuous pressing earned her possession outside Mgarr's box. She served Rachel Cuschieri who beat goalkeeper Tabone with a low shot from outside the box.

Mgarr did not give up and on the eighty-second minute, they had a header by Rebecca D'Agostino, connecting off a free-kick from the left, ending wide.

The Stripes sealed the five minutes from time when they scored their third goal. Following a cross by Rachel Cuschieri, the referee adjudicated a hands ball inside the box and he pointed to the spot. From the eleven-metres, Rachel Cuschieri comfortably hit home past Tabone.

With little time remaining, Mgarr were unable to make any sort of reaction and the referee's full time whistle found the Stripes leaving the Mgarr Grounds with the three precious points.

BIRKIRKARA: Janice Xuereb (90' Nina Dimech), Maryrose Cardona (87' Alexia Scicluna), Alishia Sultana (87' Lourdess Bonello), Stephania Farrugia, Kirstie Vella, Rebecca Chircop, Gabriella Zahra, Kim Parnis, Rachel Cuschieri, Martina Cilia (87' Charlene Schembri), Raina Giusti (58' Chantal Fenech).

MGARR: Stephanie Cremona (28' Marie Claire Tabone, Nicole Cutajar, Yanika Fenech, Antoinette Sammut, Rebecca D'Agostino, Natasha Pace, Jasmine Vella Turner, Brenda Borg, Alice Stanton, Daniela Ebejer, Abigail Camilleri.

Scorers: 15' Martina Cilia, 71' Rachel Cuschieri, 85' Rachel Cuschieri (Birkirkara), 65' Jasmine Vella Turner (Mgarr).

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