by Birkirkara & Hibernians settled for a 2 – 2 draw, marking Birkirkara’s first point claimed against top three opposition this season. Stella Francalanza and Momo Ueda put Birkirkara into the lead in the opening half, but the side was reeled in by a brace from Hibernians’ Natalee Geren.
Team Selections
Hibernians’ Maya Cachia continued her stay in goal. Amy Catania made her senior league debut alongside Natalee Geren, with Cali Schechinger and Georgiana Mifsud occupying the flanks. Captain Nicole Sciberras continued her partnership with Francesca Bartolo in midfield, with Kayleigh Chetcuti and Leah Ayres starting on the wings. Misozi Zulu supported Sylivia Kabene in attack.
Meanwhile, Julia Zarb continued her stay in goal for Birkirkara. Captain Stephania Farrugia partnered Selina Anima in defence, with Lara May Azzopardi and Haruhi Sekura starting out wide. Gabriella Zahra anchored the midfield, with Ylenia Grech and Momo Ueda for company. Kay Axiak and Stella Francalanza occupied the wings, with Izabella Stringer chosen as the most attacking player.
How It Unfolded
The questions raised of the standard of organisation of matches at the Charles Abela Stadium continued to rack up as the match started around ten minutes late, this time courtesy of the lack of corner flags fitted on the football pitch. Paula Buttigieg signalled for them to be placed, as the referee made final checks following the coin toss, just as the players settled into position following the huddle. Makeshift corner flags ensued, in the form of bibs stuck on the corner poles.
The match finally kicked off in a muted manner of opportunities, though not for the lack of desire from a few individuals. Birkirkara showed an aggressiveness in search of proving their stature despite a tough season thus far. Hibernians struggled to play their brand of football, but there was little to shout for in terms of goal-mouth action until the quarter-hour mark.
The match took a turn as Birkirkara’s Stella Francalanza successfully pressed a mistake from Maya Cachia, with the ball blocked well by the youngster before converting into the net for the opener in the 16th minute.
The onus was firmly on Hibernians to bring forward better play in getting themselves back on level terms. Frustration brewed for the Paolites on the bench as a set-piece training routine was squandered with an overhit pass.
Still the side attempt to push forward, with set-pieces, while still struggling to make inroads in open play.
Continuing the lasting trend at the Charles Abela Stadium, Stephania Farrugia was in discussion with the referee over the ball pressure inside the opening half-hour. The official pressed on with the match, with a change in ball appearing shortly after.
Birkirkara were still demanding more from play and though frustration was growing from both sides, the Stripes earned themselves the comfort of a two-goal cushion in the 38th minute. Momo Ueda continued to be a bright spark up front, winning the ball high up the pitch before winning the free-kick for a shooting opportunity, concurrently sending Nicole Sciberras in the book. Ueda completed the opportunity with a clean strike into the bottom left corner.
However, Hibernians responded shortly after. A free-kick from the left wing was not cleanly cleared by the Stripes. Natalee Geren struck a left-boot through it from the right side of the box, fizzing it into the near post.
With the lead halved, Birkirkara sought to recover more control once more, with a lob from the back getting Izabella Stringer in behind. However, the forward’s attempt at a dink was blocked by Maya Cachia, deflecting for a corner. Stephania Farrugia could not direct the resulting header in the net.
Half-Time Score: Hibernians 1 – 2 Birkirkara
There were changes from both benches at the break. Amber Galea took to the pitch instead of Francesca Bartolo, with Natalee Geren shifting into midfield as Galea slotted in defence. Maia Gauci swapped with Izabella Stringer up top for Birkirkara.
Paula Buttigieg was quick to search in her pocket for a booking for Selina Anima as the Birkirkara defender clattered into Natalee Geren in midfield. The tensions continued to rise, with Birkirkara looking at a potential first win against any of the top three this year.
Hibernians’ tactical tweaks were proving positive, with the team finding better space to play the ball into midfield and opening wide. However, the offside flag continued to frustrate. On their part, Birkirkara were seeming to be shutting up shop, pushing the team high off the ball, but not really making too much of an attempt at building any meaningful possession to extend their lead.
It proved a rueful decision, as Hibernians found the equaliser in the 62nd minute. Nicole Sciberras won the ball high up the pitch, squaring it to Natalee Geren in support. The American fancied the shot from distance, and though the crossbar denied her, she found some luck with the ball sliced into the net as Julia Zarb turned to react at the crossbar-hitting effort.
Further changes ensued with Ileana Farrugia looking to pick up the orchestration for Hibernians from Misozi Zulu, before Lisa Calleja and Nyorah Celeste were released on the wings instead of Leah Ayres and Kayleigh Chetcuti.
Meanwhile, Gabriella Zahra gave way to Amelia Vassallo in midfield for Birkirkara. The Stripes were forced into another change shortly after as Selina Anima seemed unable to shrug off an injury, with Izabella Camilleri coming on in her stead.
Amy Catania showed no signs of debuting nerves as she pushed a forward drive from the defence, in search of making inroads for the Paolites. The defender found Lisa Calleja’s run out wide. However, Stephania Farrugia used her experience to make the block and earn the goal-kick in the process, much to the increasing dismay of the Paolites’ hopefuls.
Hibernians pushed with the most intent, in search of finding a late winner. However, Sylivia Kabene’s attempt on the turn from inside the box was meek, before Nicole Sciberras’ attempt from distance fizzed over the bar, sending the teams home level.
Final Score: Hibernians 2 – 2 Birkirkara
Standings & Next Matches
Birkirkara start the year with a bang, defiant against a tough start to the season, notching their first point against one of their top three rivals. Hibernians will rue the missed opportunity, with the gap to league leaders Mgarr United widened to ten points and overtaken by Swieqi United who claim second following their victory over San Gwann.
The Stripes will be looking to maintain momentum as they next face Swieqi United on Thursday at the Centenary Stadium (20:15). Hibernians will hope to return to winning form against Valletta whom they face on Friday at the Charles Abela Stadium (KO 20:30).
Assikura Women's League - Standings
Lead Image: Lara Schembri
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2 Responses
[…] tardiness of the first match, courtesy of the missing corner flags, tampered with the beginning of the match. Officials attempted to start the match on the scheduled […]
[…] Sadly, the flags at the corners of the pitch didn’t merit the same approach, with the corner poles meant for the corner flags hanging awkwardly without the flag itself, this time not meriting a stop from the referee for a bib to be placed in a makeshift flag as happened a couple of weeks back between Hibernians & Birkirkara. […]