Birkirkara Down Mgarr United To Make It Five Unbeaten

Birkirkara made it five games unbeaten by securing a 2-0 victory over Mgarr United in a match of fine margins. Marta Grosso nudged the Stripes into the lead in the first-half. Ann-Marie Said finished things off just before the full-time whistle. Veronique Mifsud grabbed an assist, while the Birkirkara defensive unit enjoyed an impressive fifth consecutive clean sheet.

Line-Ups

Patricia Ebejer started in goal for the Greens. There was one change in defence as the side welcomed back their captain Maia Debono, who slotted alongside Anastasia Sivolobova in the heart of the defence. Abigail Camilleri and Rebecca Bajada continued to provide the width. Chantelle Grech protected the defence, with Luana Vitoria Cabral orchestrating alongside Brenda Borg further afield. In attack, Fernanda Peinado and Yulya Carella provided flanked Joelma Alves Gabriel.

Meanwhile, Birkirkara took to the field in a mirror-formation. Janice Xuereb started in goal protected by a familiar back four of Valentina Rapa, captain Stephania Farrugia, Charlene Zammit and Ann-Marie Said. Caitlin Rogers started as the holding midfielder, while Veronique Mifsud partnered Edith Garcia Falero upfield. Francesca Chircop started against her former club in the centre of attack, with Alishia Sultana and Marta Grosso providing the width.

B’Kara Block Mgarr Momentum And Nudge Ahead

It was Mgarr United who took the attacking initiative early on in the match. The Greens won themselves a corner four minutes into it, but Birkirkara defended well at the near post. Yulya Carella followed up with a shot but it was blocked once more.

Having endured early pressure, Birkirkara’s Francesca Chircop held up the ball well to enable the Stripes to get up the pitch six minutes in. The team used the resulting throw-in well with Catlin Rogers registering a shot which was wide, before the midfielder tested Patricia Ebejer with a central shot.

Considering the stakes, it was to be expected that the match heated up with tackles flying in. Marta Grosso was fouled by Rebecca Bajada earning the Stripes the first opportunity to test from a free-kick. Ann-Marie Said struck from distance but saw her effort skim the top of the net. The Stripes returned with successive corners and Marta Grosso managed to pick out Valentina Rapa but her header was defended well by Mgarr United.

The battle to control the midfield continued to bubble shortly after with Brenda Borg’s dart upfield being blocked by Caitlin Rogers. A few moments later the referee blew a free-kick in favour of the Greens as Charlene Zammit and Rebecca Bajada challenged for the ball, receiving more than a few complaints from the B’Kara contingent. However, the delivery was handled well by Janice Xuereb.

The referee got another earful of complaints from the Stripes’ bench because the lack of a booking as Grosso was fouled on the wing once more, with the Italian requiring lengthy treatment. The Greens were next to complain as the Stripes won a free-kick in dangerous territory twenty-five minutes into the match, following what Mgarr United deemed soft contact. Ann-Marie Said struck but this too sailed just above the goal.

Having gotten themselves more into the driving seat, Birkirkara opened the scoring just past the half-hour mark. Valentina Rapa crossed into Veronique Mifsud who made the run into the box. Although her initial strike was saved by Patricia Ebejer, Marta Grosso rebounded home from close range to get her team into the lead.

The Stripes almost cut the Greens open just two minutes later, but Abigail Camilleri intercepted the final pass to Alishia Sultana to deny Birkirkara’s number nine a free-run on goal.

The Greens fought back with some nifty footwork from Joelma Alves Gabriel who turned away from Stephania Farrugia, before finding Brenda Borg. She played a through ball for Fernanda Peinado to chase but Janice Xuereb collected ahead of the forward. Sensing the tight balance of the match and Birkirkara settling into a comfortable rhythm, the Brazilian urged her team to press high up the pitch.

More commotion ensued as Joelma Alves Gabriel and Janice Xuereb got entangled with more than a few words getting exchanged along the way and the referee having to separate the players. At this point the referee brandished a booking to the Brazilian, while dishing out another to Ann-Marie Said for the aftermath involvement.

The Stripes attempted another attack late in the half but Maia Debono dispossessed Alishia Sultana on the wing with a well-timed tackle that saw the opportunity ebb away.

Half Time Score: Mgarr United 0 – 1 Birkirkara

Few Chances & One Goal

There were no changes from either dugout at the break. The Greens restarted with a real intensity to find the equaliser. Luana Vitoria Cabral struck from inside the box just a minute into the half but saw her effort loop over the bar. One of their best chances of the match developed shortly after as Joelma Alves Gabriel latched onto a pass before wriggling past two defenders and getting a low shot away. However, it lacked the necessary power to cause Janice Xuereb too much trouble.

Having gone through more than her fair share of tumbles Marta Grosso signalled to the bench shortly into the half. She was replaced by Arianna Del Moral in the 56th minute. Francesca Chircop also made way for Gabriella Zahra. She slotted in the centre of midfield, pushing Edith Garcia Falero into the central striker role.

Earnest to stop Mgarr United from growing in confidence, the Stripes made sure to chase every ball with Alishia Sultana leading the charge more than once. However, there was little to show in attack for long-spells, with Mgarr United’s defence able to read the play well.

Patricia Ebejer made an important stop to keep her team in it in the 67th minute. Gabriella Zahra played a well weighted ball for Edith Garcia Falero to chase but the Uruguayan lost the duel against Patricia Ebejer. Despite this, the Greens struggled to get any rhythm into their attack, with the Stripes keen to simply block the passage of play, put the ball into touch and let the clock tick on.

Some intensity returned to the contest as the match got more stretched into the final twenty minutes. Birkirkara’s attempt to get forward was denied by Rebecca Bajada before she played the ball into Brenda Borg to get Mgarr going in the other direction. The ball was ultimately recycled back to Bajada as she got further up the pitch but a final attempt to get Yulya Carella was just overcooked letting the Stripes off the hook.

Jose Borg was forced into another substitution late on as Edith Garcia Falero picked up an injury and was replaced by Raina Giusti in a straight swap for the final ten minutes of the match. Mgarr United responded with a forward-thinking substitution in bringing off Chantelle Grech who was replaced by Rodiana Borg. She slotted into the usual left-wing role, with Fernanda Peinado shifting centrally.

Soon after, Joelma Alves Gabriel showed good skill to get past Charlene Zammit but was not on the same wavelength as she played a through ball which no one ran for. It encapsulated the growing sense of frustration for the Greens whose link-up play in the final third was lacking on the day.

At the other end, Birkirkara were still searching to get the safety of a second goal. Raina Giusti made a dart from midfield before being thwarted by Anastasia Sivolobova. The Moldovan defender partnered with Maia Debono well and the defence continued to keep things in check and their team in it for as long as possible.

Despite this, Ann-Marie Said delivered a final blow with the last action of the match. An initial corner was well defended, but recycled back to the full-back. She struck a left-boot which sent the ball looping high toward the goal and into the net for the second goal, despite the goalkeeper trying to get fingertips on it.

Full-Time Score: Mgarr United 0 – 2 Birkirkara

There’s A Different Way To Show Support

There is no doubt that a match with stakes as high as this leads to a rush of blood to the head. Such emotions are perhaps the best thing about the game. However, as the game continues to grow and such close clashes continue to enjoy a higher turnout, one urges those in the stands to show respect to players and officials. The increase in match-goers chanting support toward their favourite teams is a mark of the growth of the game and elevates the experience for all in the stands. The hurling of personal insults toward players and officials does not.

In the meantime, one expects that the personnel responsible of matches take note of all incidences and work toward improving the game on every level and in every department. An inability of officials to control the match will no doubt worsen the situation.

Next Matches

Having taken another top-four scalp in the first round, the Stripes now have a short turnaround before they face Swieqi United. The two meet for the first time this season on Tuesday 7th November under the lights at the Centenary Stadium (kick-off 20:00). Both teams will go into the match high on confidence after Swieqi United also beat Lija Athletic by 6-0 earlier in the day.

Meanwhile, the Greens will dust themselves off and prepare to start the second round with a meet against San Gwann on Friday 10th November at 20:30 at Mgarr Ground. The Yellows will also be looking to bounce back from their 3-0 defeat to Valletta earlier in the day.

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