Women's Team defeated by Mgarr United

by Ayrton Galea - 26th February 2014

Birkirkara FC Women's Team saw their winning streak come to an end on Tuesday evening, when they succumbed to a narrow 2-1 defeat against Mgarr United FC.

The defeat brought to an end the second round commitments and Birkirkara are now three points under Hibernians. The title-race for the Stripes is now an uphill struggle, but as proved in previous years, the Stripes have all that it takes to rise for the occasion and bring the title home.

It was a balanced match as Mgarr played their hearts out and they were rewarded for their efforts. They managed to score a goal in each half to set their victory on course before Rachel Cuschieri pulled one back. In the last stages, Birkirkara tried hard and they were close to levelling matters, but Mgarr held strong to beat the Stripes for their first time ever in their history.

Mr. Johann Scicluna made one change from the first-eleven selection that defeated Gozo. Gabriella Zahra who was not in the best condition was benched, with Maryrose Cardona taking up her place.

The First Half

The match started on an acceptable pace as Birkirkara sought to secure possession early, but Mgarr United were steady not to concede pressure in the opening minutes.

There was little to separate both sides in the opening minutes, but it was Mgarr who threatened first. Brenda Borg produced an excellent solo-action on the thirteenth minute, with the National player concluding her effort by a shot from distance which was easily parried by goalkeeper Janice Xuereb.

Birkirkara were holding most of the possession but they were being erratic in their final touch very often, mainly due to the high pressing by the hard working Mgarr midfielders.

Mid-way through the first half, goalkeeper Janice Xuereb had to come out and neutralise the danger, as former Birkirkara player Isabelle Mazzitelli was about to connect from an inviting pass inside the box.

Mgarr surged ahead on the half-hour mark. Isabelle Mazzitelli passed to Brenda Borg inside the box, and the promising youngster slotted home past goalkeeper Janice Xuereb.

The Stripes were quick to make a desperate reaction. Just four minutes after falling behind, Rachel Cuschieri had a dangerous free-kick from a diagonal position, which goalkeeper Stephanie Cremona had to save in two attempts.

With Mgarr crowding the midfield department, the Stripes sough to attack from the flanks. It was an action started on the left flank that proved to be Birkirkara's best scoring opportunity. Five minutes from time, Rachel Cuschieri made an excellent run, and drifted inside the box to send a threatening cross-shot. None of the Birkirkara players managed to connect and the opportunity was wasted.

As the end of the first half loomed near, Birkirkara began to step up their performance and three minutes from half time, they were unlucky not to level matters. Alishia Sultana served Raina Giusti who had a wonderful strike that smashed against the crossbar. From the resulting rebound, Rachel Cuschieri had her low strike scratching past the post.

With the Stripes still blaming their lack of luck, the referee blew the half-time, and they headed to the dressing room.

The Second Half

Birkirkara started the second forty-five brightly and they sought to put their opponents under pressure. In the first scoring opportunity, five minutes into the second half, Rachel Cuschieri had a shot from distance ending wide.

Aiming to put his opponents under more pressure, Mr. Johann Scicluna, the Birkirkara Coach made his first change as he replaced Martina Cilia with Kelly Agius Pace.

Just past the hour mark, Rachel Cuschieri had a fierce shot from outside the box turned into a corner kick by goalkeeper Stephanie Cremona.

Birkirkara were applying pressure, but against the run of the play, Mgarr United made them two. Twenty minutes into the second half, from a cross from the right, Rachel Nolan tapped home from close range.

In another desperate reaction, on the sixty-eight minutes, Kirstie Vella had an excellent shot from distance shot hitting the crossbar.

Rachel Cuschieri gave the Stripes a life-line on the eighty-third minute, as she pulled one back. The Birkirkara midfielder took an excellent diagonal free-kick which surprised goalkeeper Stephanie Cremona.

The Stripes were now found hoping once again, and all-out on the attack, they almost levelled matters. In one of the few successful crosses in the match, Kim Parnis sent cross on the second post, but Alishia Sultana hit wide from an ideal position inside the box.

Birkirkara continued to try hard in the last minutes but the referee's full-time whistle dashed their hopes as Mgarr United held strong to collect the three points.

BIRKIRKARA: Janice Xuereb, Rebecca Chircop, Alishia Sultana, Martina Cilia (62' Kelly Agius Pace), Maryrose Cardona, Kim Parnis, Rachel Cuschieri, Stephania Farrugia, Raina Giusti, Yasmeen Vella, Kirstie Vella.

MGARR: Stephanie Cremona, Nicole Cutajar, Abigail Camilleri, Yanika Fenech, Rebecca D'Agostino, Natasha Pace, Brenda Borg, Daniela Ebejer, Jasmine Vella Turner, Isabelle Mazzitelli, Antoinette Sammut.

Yellow Cards: Martina Cilia, Stephania Farrugia, Kelly Agius Pace (Birkirkara).

Scorers: 83' Rachel Cuschieri (Birkirkara), 30' Brenda Borg, 65' Rachel Nolan (Mgarr United).

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