Extra time goals sink Women's team
by Ayrton Galea - 30th September 2014
Two goals in the extra-time period condemned Birkirkara to lose an entertaining and balanced match, as Hibernians lifted the BOV Women's Super Cup by beating the Stripes with a 2-0 result.
Women's football has increased in its level and the football played by both sides promises a bright future. Both sides played their hearts out and never gave an inch of space, but substitute Corissa Vella's goal broke the deadlock and Francesca Chircop scored the second half in the deep in the second half of the extra-time period.
It was a balanced encounter where both sides enjoyed their moments. The Stripes could have left the Centenary Stadium blaming their luck for not making the most of their scoring opportunities, as they kept pushing forward till the final moments.
Mr. Johann Scicluna fielded a 3-5-2 formation. Goalkeeper Janice Xuereb completed her recovery on time to defend the posts on the day while the three-line trio featured Stephania Farrugia, Yasmeen Vella and Kim Parnis, with the latter being deployed to defence from her usual midfield position. Alishia Sultana and Kirstie Vella patrolled the wing-backs while the midfield trio featured the latest signing, Hanna Tegelmann, alongside Gabriella Zahra and Martina Cilia. Raina Giusti and Kelly Agius Pace composed the attacking department.
The First Half
There was a sense of caution between the two sides in the first minutes, as they preferred to study their opponent instead of being adventurous.
It was Birkirkara who had the first scoring opportunity in the match. After ten minutes of play, Kelly Agius Pace, undoubtedly one of the best Birkirkara players on the day, picked a through-ball that had unzipped the Paolities defence, and her shot was cleared by a defender after it seemed that she had beat goalkeeper Demicoli.
From the resulting corner kick, Raina Giusti tried her luck with a direct effort, but her cross-shot was turned into another kick by an alert Hibernians goalkeeper.
The Stripes threatened again three minutes later. Alishia Sultana played a quick throw-in to Kim Parnis who fired a fierce strike, but goalkeeper Demicoli saved in two attempts.
Hibernians did not hold back. On the sixteenth minute, Dorianne Theuma served an intelligent pass in the direction of Francesca Chircop but the latter had her strike parried by goalkeeper Xuereb. On the other side of the pitch, two minutes later, a direct free-kick by Kim Parnis was saved by Demicoli.
Hibernians were concentrating most of their attacks on the right side, and this prompted Birkirkara Coach's Mr. Johann Scicluna to utilise his first substitution on the twenty-second minute. Maryrose Cardona replaced Kirstie Vella. Cardona took her preferred right-wing position with Alishia Sultana shifting to the left-wing.
The balanced encounter continued. Most of the possession was being won and lost inside the midfield department as the contrast between Dorianna Theuma and Martina Cilia, who never stopped fighting, was creating an enjoyable contest. The two other midfielders, Zahra and Tegelmann, were also playing an excellent match, with the latter winning countless fouls.
The rhythm remained unchanged. There was nothing much else to report apart from a direct free-kick from Dorianne Theuma that ended wide off the far post.
The half-time whistle found both teams heading to their dressing rooms in a goal-less draw.
The Second Half
Hibernians should have opened their scoring account two minutes into the second half. The excellent foot work of Dorianne Theuma saw her penetrating down the left flank before serving Francesca Chircop who lost a golden opportunity by hitting over in front of Janice Xuereb. A minute later, the same player once again hit over with another shot from inside the box.
Birkirkara had their turn to go ahead five minutes later. Hanna Tegelmann showed great vision to serve an excellent pass that unzipped the Paolities defence, but Kelly Agius Pace saw her fine strike turned into a corner kick by Demicoli.
On the sixty-third minute, Dorianne Theuma had a long-distance shot ending wide and over. Birkirkara replied seven minutes later, when a short clearance fell to Raina Giusti's feet that saw her low strike from inside the box parried by Demicoli.
Both teams continued to battle for every inch. However, the second half saw both sides being more adventurous and the tempo increased. However the two sides had to settle for a goalless draw inside the ninety minutes and extra time had to follow.
The Extra Time
Birkirkara should have surged ahead ten minutes inside the extra-time period. Kelly Agius Pace did all the work to provide Giusti a brilliant through ball with the latter racing forward, but all alone against Demicoli, her effort was deflected by the keeper.
Hibernians broke the dead-lock in their next attack. A through-ball from midfield saw Janice Xuereb rushing out, but Corissa Vella was quicker to reach and fired home to put the Paolites in the lead.
With less than twenty minutes remaining, the Stripes had no other option but to put everything forward, resulting in big gaps in the defence. Hibernians scored their second goal four minutes from time. In a fast counter-attack, Francesca Chircop picked-up a fine pass from a controversial offside position, and hit past helpless goalkeeper Xuereb to seal the issue.
After the match, Hibernians were presented with the BOV Women's Super Cup for the second consecutive time and the fourth one in their history.
BIRKIRKARA: Janice Xuereb, Yasmeen Vella, Kim Parnis, Stephania Farrugia, Kirstie Vella (22' Maryrose Cardona, 105' Charlene Schembri), Hanna Tegelmann, Gabriella Zahra, Martina Cilia, Kelly Agius Pace, Raina Giusti (98' Tara Attard).
HIBERNIANS: Keoney Demicoli, Rosalie Cauchi, Charlene Zammit, Maria Azzopardi, Claire Sciberras, Dionne Tonna, Francesca Chircop, Martina Borg, Dorianne Theuma, Shona Zammit, Ylenia Carabott.
Yellow Cards: Maryrose Cardona (Birkirkara).
Scorers: 100' Corissa Vella, 116' Francesca Chircop (Hibernians).
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