Anderlecht Exert Dominance Against Birkirkara To Secure Place In Next Round

RSC Anderlecht secured the place in round two of the UEFA Women’s Champions League with a 5 – 0 victory over Birkirkara. Amelie Delabre got the side going in the first half, before two quick goals by Marie Minnaert and Luna Vanzeir gave the side a comfortable lead on the restart. Injury-time goals by substitutes Maxime Bennink and Laurie Teinturier completed the rout. Matters for Birkirkara were compounded by injury to captain Stephania Farrugia early in the match.

Team Selections

Anderlecht’s Dennis Moerman kept faith in Aude Waldbillig in goal. Tine De Caigny replaced Silke Vanwynsberghe in the heart of the defence, partnering captain Laura De Neve. Laura Deloose and Nikki Ijzerman kept their place in the full-back positions. Marie Minnaert partnered Stefania Vatafu in midfield, with Luna Vanzeir orchestrating further forward. Fanny Rossi came into the starting eleven occupying the left wing, while Sarah Wijnants continued her stay on the right. Amelie Delabre continued leading the attack.

Meanwhile, Birkirkara’s Vince Galea stuck to the same starting eleven that played against Breznica Pljevlja on Wednesday. Maya Cachia was protected by Valentina Rapa, captain Stephania Farrugia, Charlene Zammit and Calista Schechinger. Gabriella Zahra continued in midfield with Luana Vitoria Cabral and Yuna Hazekawa. Mariah Cardona and Alishia Cassar occupied the wings, while Francesca Chircop led the attack.

The teams wore black armbands in respect to the recent passing of mother of former player for both clubs, Rachel Cuschieri.

How It Unfolded

Anderlecht attempted to get a quick start in the match, creating their first major opportunity just four minutes into it. Sarah Wijnants’s attempt was saved by Maya Cachia, but still loose, before Stephania Farrugia just got enough to block the rebound and for Maya Cachia to hold onto it.

Birkirkara’s Yuna Hazekawa got the team forward in midfield, before finding Mariah Cardona. Although she beat her initial marker, she could not feed Alishia Cassar, with Laura De Neve reading play. Anderlecht countered with pace, with Birkirkara with ten players while skipper Stephania Farrugia received treatment. However, Amelie Delabre’s attempt to play in Sarah Wijnants dragged her wide, before the cross back was headed over the bar.

With a quarter of an hour gone, the Belgians controlled the momentum of the match. Charlene Zammit and Valentina Rapa were both called into action to clear crosses coming in from either side. Maya Cachia was also being kept busy with long range efforts.

However, Anderlecht finally broke through in the 16th minute. Luna Vanzeir launched a ball from midfield for Sarah Wijnants to chase. She delivered a square ball to Amelie Delabre who fired it into the roof of the net to send her team in front.

Despite having come back into the match, Birkirkara skipper Stephania Farrugia was unable to continue with the injury taking its toll. She was replaced by Raina Giusti who slotted on the right wing, while Alishia Cassar shifted to the right-back position and Valentina Rapa partnered Charlene Zammit in the centre of the defence.

Anderlecht kept pushing forward in search for more, while Birkirkara retreated further in defence, with the wide forwards almost in line with the defence, while Luana Vitoria Cabral was the only outlet with Francesca Chircop.

However, the Belgian side could not capitalise on the opportunities created in the first half, often wasteful in front of goal, or having the final ball thwarted at the final stage by the Stripes’ defence. Amelie Delabre did manage to find the net again but it was ruled out for offside.

Having taken on much pressure, Birkirkara’s Vince Galea made a swap sending Alishia Cassar into the left wing, while Mariah Cardona occupied the right-back position. The change injected pace into Birkrikara’s attack to good effect. The team managed to build good play from the back with Valentina Rapa, Mariah Cardona linking with Yuna Hazekawa. However, her attempt to switch play to Alishia Cassar was read by Laura Deloose.

Still, it injected belief in the home side, with the team again working the left wing to good effect a few minutes later. Alishia Cassar piled pressure on the defence, however Aude Waldbillig was quick to collect to nip the opportunity. Luana Vitoria Cabral was next to get the better of Tine De Caigny in midfield, before speeding away, but Laura De Neve read the attempt to release Francesca Chircop into space.

Meanwhile, Anderlecht continued piling shots and creating good forward momentum, but went into the break with just the one goal lead.

Half-Time Score: Anderlecht 1 – 0 Birkirkara

Birkirkara’s Vince Galea made one change at the break in attack, bringing on Erica Bispo instead of Francesca Chircop.

The Belgian side made sure of their place in round two by converting two quick goals on the restart. The team worked a short corner before Nikki Ijzerman delivered the cross into the box with Marie Minnaert firing it across and having some luck with the post to double the lead in the 50th minute.

The third came just three minutes later. Stefania Vatafu powered her way into the box unchallenged, before squaring it to Luna Vanzeir. She tapped it home from close range.

With the lead firmly in hand, Anderlecht’s Dennis Moerman brought on Laurie Teinturier, while Fanny Rossi gave way. The side pressed the home side for more, with Birkirkara struggling to play out from the back. Laura De Neve also opted to go more direct to release Sarah Wijnants, but Maya Cachia commanded the box to clear the danger.

The Belgian side was also forced into a change due to injury to Amelie Delabre, with Senna Koeleman coming on in midfield instead.

The home team managed to have a positive spell as the 70th minute elapsed. Yuna Hazekawa won the ball in midfield and attempted a shot from distance after noticing Aude Waldbillig off her line. However, the Japanese playmaker was just wide of the mark.

Still the team followed it up with a free-kick opportunity which Calista Schechinger fired from distance, but it flew just above the bar. The side also earned a corner which Yuna Hazekawa delivered toward the box, but the Anderlecht defence were first to the ball.

Both coaches made changes with ten minutes to go. Martina Fenech replaced Mariah Cardona at right back for Birkirkara. Meanwhile, Maxime Bennink came on instead of Luna Vanzeir.

Stefania Vatafu attempted to add the fourth with a free-kick from close range , but the wall did its job to deflect it for a corner. Nikkki Ijzerman found Tine De Caigny who towered in the box, but her header fizzed above the crossbar.

Charlene Zammit was key in another crucial interception in the 87th minute to deny Laura Teinturier the chance to convert a certain goal from close range. Stella Francalanza was the final introductee by Vince Galea, replacing Erica Bispo who could not continue through injury.

Anderlecht finished off the win with two goals in injury time to wrap up a dominant scoreline. Sarah Wijnants delivered a low cross to Maxime Bennink who got ahead of her marker to convert the fourth. Wijnants picked out Laurie Teinteurier just seconds later, who looped a header into the far post to finish off the match.

Final Score: Anderlecht 5 – 0 Birkirkara

Standings

Anderlecht complete round one at the top of the group and secure the place into the next round for the first time since the competition adopted its current format. They will learn their next opponents in Monday’s draw.

Meanwhile, Birkirkara will be disappointed with the result on the day as well as wary of the injury to their captain Stephania Farrugia. However, they finish the group in second place for the second year running.

The side will now shift focus on the domestic Assikura Women’s League in search of finding the record-breaking thirteenth title. The league continues this Thursday 12th, with the Stripes returning to action on Friday 13th against Swieqi United at the Victor Tedesco Stadium at 20:30.

Red Star Belgrade earned third-place with a 3-0 victory over Breznica Pljevlja earlier in the evening. It marks the side’s maiden win in their debut year in the competition.

Lead Image: Lara Schembri

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