WATCH: Birkirkara FC 3-3 Cork City FC
by Ayrton Galea - 23rd November 2019
Birkirkara FC Women's Team and Cork City FC shared the spoils in an entertaining 3-3 draw in a friendly match played at the Sirens Stadium yesterday evening.
It was a good opportunity for the Stripes to keep their match practice by facing a tough opposition who just finished their league campaign. Both teams produced a satisfactory performance and the final result reflected the effort by both teams.
Coach Melania Bajada was unable to field her best formation as goalkeeper Janice Xuereb, Alishia Sultana and Tracy Teuma were all missing. Promising goalkeeper Maya Cachia played the entire match.
The Birkirkara Coach fielded a tried and tested 4-2-3-1 formation with Simone Buttigeg deployed in an unusual right-back position. Esther Anu and Raina Giusti, confirming their rich form, patrolled the wings while Ethiopian forward Loza Abera led the attack supported by Kailey Willis roaming behind.
The First Half
The Stripes made an explosive start as they surged ahead after two minutes. Kailey Willis scored a gem of a goal as her long-distance shot surprised goalkeeper.
Cork City could have made the score level in their first scoring opportunity. Katie McCarthy supplied an excellent through-ball towards the on-running Christina Dring, but the latter shot wide from an ideal position.
Willis should have scored the second goal of the Stripes and her second personal one when she won possession and exchanged it with Loza Abera in a delightful one-two combination passes but fired over from a good position inside the box.
Goalkeeper Maya Cachia came to the rescue and did well to intercept Dring following a dazzling run by Katie McCarthy. The Stripes responded with a solo-action of Esther Anu who hit wide following a superb run on the left side.
Anu was involved in the action again a few moments later when she served a fine through-ball towards Veronique Mifsud whose shot on the first-post hit the side-netting.
Cork City made the score level on the thirty-ninth minute. Sophie Liston made an outstanding run from the right-wing to penetrate inside the box and her shot hit the upright and went in.
The Second Half
The Stripes regained the lead on the fifty-third minute. Loza Abera profited from a defensive blunder and the prolific forward kept her cool to calmly lob the ball over goalkeeper Maria O' Sullivan.
However, the Irish side made the score level three minutes later. It was Sophie Liston who once again did all the damage with another fine action before her powerful shot hit past the young goalkeeper Maya Cachia.
The Stripes made an instant reaction and went close to regain the lead. An accurate free-kick of Stephania Farrugia found Ann-Marie Said on the first post who hit a fine header, but her effort ended just over the bar.
Cork City took the lead for the first time in the match just before the hour mark. A shot from inside the box was blocked by Stephania Farrugia, but from the resulting rebound, a low cross found Katie McCarthy who hit home from close-range.
The Stripes made the score level on the sixty-eighth minute when Loza Abera's shot was blocked by the goalkeeper and from the rebound, Raina Giusti's shot beat the goalkeeper.
BIRKIRKARA: Maya Cachia, Gabriella Zahra, Ann-Marie Said, Stephania Farrugia, Alishia Sultana, Loza Abera, Kailey Willis, Raina Giusti (69' Jelena Sakic), Veronique Mifsud, Yasmeen Vella (79' Valentina Rapa), Esther Anu, Simone Buttigieg (49' Samantha Zarb).
CORK CITY: Maria O' Sullivan (69' Abby McCarthy), Maggie Duncliffe (49' Riona Crowley), Christina Dring, Eadoin Lyons, Katie McCarthy (79' Lauren Singleton), Éabha O'Mahony, Zara Foley (62' Nathalie O'Brien), Sophie Liston (62' Megan Howard), Lauren Walsh, Kate O'Donovan (46' Jesse Mendez), Liz O'Connor (46' Nadine Seward).
Scorers: 2' Kailey Willis, 53' Loza Abera, 68' Raina Giusti (Birkirkara), 39', 56' Sophie Liston, 58' Katie McCarthy (Cork City FC).
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