Five-star Women's Team outclass Mgarr United
by Ayrton Galea - 13th November 2015
Birkirkara FC Women's Team delivered a bold statement of the team's qualities when with a magnificent performance, they outclassed Mgarr United FC and registered a brilliant 5-1 victory in the direct clash for the second place of the BOV Women's League.
Slowly but surely, the Stripes are capturing their sparkle. The match against Mgarr United was expected to be a tough nut to crack but the Stripes had other plans in mind as they outclassed their opponents with undoubtedly the best performance of the season so far.
Sharper and superior in every aspect right from the start, the Stripes made their intentions clear to notice as they surged ahead after just five minutes. The opening goal set the ball rolling for an entertaining and outstanding display as they added another three goals in the first half. Mgarr pulled one back early in the second half but it was only a matter of minutes before the Stripes restored their four-goal lead and sealed the issue.
Inspired by another terrific performance of the tireless midfielder Gabriella Zahra and the tormenting winger Raina Giusti, the Stripes produced another high-goal scoring match. Zahra scored the first goal while she assisted the third one to Stephania Farrugia while Giusti scored the second and fourth goal for the Stripes as her runs tormented the Greens defence. Substitute Kelly Agius Pace scored the fifth and final goal.
Set out in a 4-4-1-1 formation by Coach Mr. Jean Pierre Portanier, the Stripes gave an outstanding tactical display. Janice Xuereb defended the posts, Stephania Farrugia and Yasmeen Vella formed the central-backs while Melania Bajada and Oriana Bedingfield started as side-backs. Gabriella Zahra composed the midfield department with Alishia Sultana and Raina Giusti patrolling the wings. Catherine Campbell retained her role on roaming behind striker Heidi Kjaer.
Thanks to this victory, the Stripes completed their first-round commitments on a high. They have now registered three consecutive victories and finished the first-round with twelve points, three under leaders Hibernians and five points over third-placed Mgarr United.
The First Half
The Stripes came out aggressive and they took just five minutes to break the dead-lock. Raina Giusti's quick movement unsettled the defence and showed great vision to serve the unmarked Gabriella Zahra who unleashed a well-placed shot that hit past the help-less Rachelle Borg.
Mgarr were stunned by the opening quick but they were quick to re-group. They caught the Birkirkara defence on the back foot as Amber Grech was sprinted forward but was fouled by Stephania Farrugia who received a yellow card for her tactical foul. From the resulting free-kick, the same player shot wide.
However, Birkirkara dictated matters and they made doubled the lead on the twenty-second minute. Zahra's quick short free-kick surprised the defence as it was met by the brilliant timed run of Stephania Farrugia and the latter had her shot blocked but Raina Giusti was quick to pick-up the loose-ball and smashed the ball home.
Two become three just nine minutes later. The combination from set-pieces between Zahra and Farrugia were evident once again. Zahra was quick again to find the unmarked Farrugia who showed great skills to control and hit past goalkeeper Borg.
From a predicted tight encounter to a one-way traffic match, the Stripes were all over their stunned opponents. The latter had a desperate shot flying over the bar on the fortieth minute when Jasmine Vella turned hit high after served by Claudette Xuereb.
The speed of Raina Giusti on the left wing was tormenting the defence and it paid off with the fourth goal just before the half-time whistle. It was a quick transition from the back that saw Heidi Kjaer serving Giusti on the run who got past her marker Rebecca D'Agostino, powered herself inside the box and hit past goalkeeper Borg.
The Stripes headed to their dressing room with an incredible four-goal lead.
The Second Half
Mr. Jean Pierre Portanier was forced to make his first substitution at the start of the second half as Catherine Campbell suffered a knock and was substituted by Kelly Agius Pace.
The Stripes lost a golden opportunity to make them five just one minutes inside the second half. Their aggressive approach led to goalkeeper Rachelle Borg failing to hit the ball but Kelly Agius Pace had her shot ending wide by inches from outside the box.
In another fine combination up-front, Heidi Kjaer had a shot ending wide for Birkirkara while minute later, Amber Grech had a shot ending over for Mgarr.
Mgarr pulled one back on the fiftieth minute. Nicole Cutajar delivered a free-kick from the right that found the unmarked Brenda Borg who hit the ball with an eye-catching back-heel and surprised goalkeeper Xuereb.
Birkirkara were quick to react and close the half-hour mark, Raina Giusti delivered an accurate corner kick that saw Kim Parnis' header turned into yet another corner thanks to a fine save by goalkeeper Borg.
Twenty minutes inside the second half, in Birkirkara's second substitution, Isabelle Mazzitelli replaced Yasmeen Vella. For Mazzitelli, this was her first appearance against her former team since joining the Stripes in August.
The Stripes made them five on the sixty-sixth minute. The speed of Giusti was clear to see once again as she surged forward on the left flank before picking-up substitute Kelly Agius Pacewho hit a wonderful shot that gave goalkeeper Borg no time. For Agius Pace, this was her fourth goal in the last three matches.
Brenda Borg was close reducing the gap once again on the seventieth minute but free-kick from outside the box ended wide.
On the seventy-third minute, Heidi Kjaer was substituted by Maryrose Cardona. Cardona was included in midfield joining Zahra and Kim Parnis as Mr. Portanier sought to strengthen his midfield department with a fresh pair of legs.
Mgarr were unlucky not to score their second goal as after Brenda Borg's shot was blocked by goalkeeper Xuereb, substitute Thea Zahra was on the right position to receive the loose-ball but only to see her strike denied by the clearance of Alishia Sulana off the goal-line as the result remained unchanged.
BIRKIRKARA: Janice Xuereb, Melania Bajada, Yasmeen Vella (65' Isabelle Mazzitelli), Stephania Farrugia, Oriana Bedingfield, Gabriella Zahra, Kim Parnis (88' Mariah Sciberras), Catherine Campbell (46' Kelly Agius Pace), Raina Giusti, Alishia Sultana (82' Kirstie Vella), Heidi Kjaer (73' Maryrose Cardona)
MGARR UNITED: Rachellele Borg, Nicole Cutajar, Rebecca D'Agostino, Yanika Fenech, Natasha Pace, Antoinette Sammut, Amber Grech, Claudette Xuereb, Nicole Buttigieg, Jasmine Vella Turner.
Yellow Cards: 10' Stephania Farrugia, 81' Janice Xuereb (Birkirkara), Natasha Pace (Mgarr United).
Scorers: 5' Gabriella Zahra, 22' Raina Giusti, 31' Stephania Farrugia, 44' Raina Giusti, 66' Kelly Agius Pace (Birkirkara), 50' Brenda Borg.
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