Tough start for Stripes in UWCL
by Ayrton Galea - 22nd August 2017
Birkirkara FC started their UEFA Women's Champions League commitments on Tuesday evening with a tough result, as two early injuries and two penalty kicks conceded, the Stripes suffered an 8-0 defeat against FC Minsk of Belarus.
Coach Melania Bajada makes official debut
Coach Melania Bajada made her official debut as the Birkirkara FC coach. Bajada joined our Club in June as a Coach, after she has played with our shirt in Season 2013-2014 and Season 2014-2015. This was also her first experience in the UEFA Women's Champions League.
Debut in UEFA Women's Champions League for seven players
Ann-Marie Said, Tracy Teuma, Mariah Sciberras and Sarah Urpani were all given the nod right from the start to make their debut in the UEFA Women's Champions League. Michela Felice, Sonia Schembri and Samantha Zarb also made their first appearance in this competition, after being utilised as substitutes.
Early Setbacks
Birkirkara faced an early set-back with two injuries in the opening fifteen minutes, as Kelly Agius Pace and Mariah Sciberras were both stretchered out with a knee and an ankle injury respectively. This forced Coach Bajada to make tactical adjustments as Urpani was advanced as the only forward, as Schembri was included as a left-wing. Felice was included as a left-back instead of Sciberras.
Five goals in twenty-five minutes
Minsk made the best out of Birkirkara's struggle to settle following their early set-backs as they scored five goals in the opening twenty-five minutes. Anna Pilipenko completed a hat-trick inside the opening fifteen minutes while Anastasia Linnik and Tamila Khimich scored a goal each.
Controversial penalty
Birkirkara might have taken long to settle, but they showed drastic improvement in the second part of the first half. However, their efforts were cancelled with a very controversial penalty four minutes from half-time, when Ann-Marie Said was harshly adjudicated that pushed the Minsk forward inside the box. From the spot, Yuliya Duben made no mistake from the spot.
A positive second half
The Stripes produced a very satisfactory tactical display as they cancelled out the Belarus side in the opening twenty minutes of the second half. Birkirkara were now being more aggressive when going to press their opponent while they were controlling the mobile Minsk forwards with such comfortability.
Stripes denied penalty
Birkirkara's drastic improvement enabled them to apply some pressure on the Minsk's defence. Tracy Teuma looked clear on goal on the sixty-eighth minute, before she was pushed inside the box. For the surprise and disappointment of the Birkirkara clan, the referee waved on. To add more woes, from the following counter attack, Minsk made them seven by Tamila Khimich.
Late goal to wrap-up an unlucky and tough evening
The Stripes were now done and out with the seventh goal, following a controversial decision of not being awarded a penalty, in which this led for conceding another goal. To wrap-up an unlucky and touch evening, Minsk added further gloss on the victory with the eighth goal, thanks to a direct free-kick by Liana Miroshnichenko.
BIRKIRKARA: Janice Xuereb, Gabriella Zahra, Ann-Marie Said, Kim Parnis, Stephania Farrugia, Mariah Sciberras (16' Sonia Schembri), Tracy Teuma, Alishia Sultana, Sarah Urpani (81' Samantha Zarb), Yasmeen Vella, Kelly Agius Pace (9' Michela Felice)
MINSK: Ekaterina Kovalchuk, Polina Beshten (46' Ernestina Abambila), Yulia Borisenko (46' Yulia Slesarchik), Anna Kozyupa, Anastasia Linnik, Yuliya Duben, Tamila Khimich, Faustina Ampah, Lyubov Shmatko (68' Liana Miroshnichenko), Alvine Njolle, Anna Pilipenko
Yellow Cards: 25' Yasmeen Vella, 86' Stephania Farrugia.
Scorers: 8', 11', 15' Anna Pilipenko, 21' Anastasia Linnik, 25' Tamila Khimich, 41' Yuliya Duben, 69' Tamila Khimich, 87' Liana Miroshnichenko.
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