by The league leaders ensured themselves of the three points with a 4-0 victory over Valletta. Three first-half goals by Marta Grosso, Sara Saliba and Arianna Del Moral gave the Stripes a comfortable lead at the break. Substitute Francesca Chircop wrapped things late in the match, while Edith Garcia Falero also struck the post.
Team Selections
Valletta’s Andressa de Souza Ramos started in goal. Georgiana Mifsud and Sabrin Blihi started in a centre-back pairing, flanked by Miriana Conti and Michela Bonello Ghio. Captain Monique Sultana was supported by Francesca Bartolo and Ylenia Grech in midfield, while Laura Muscat and Sarah Vella Barberi provided the width. Eduarda Martins Souza was the lone attacker.
Janice Xuereb returned in goal for Birkirkara. Captain Stephania Farrugia was partnered by Caitlin Rogers. Ileana Farrugia and Mariah Cardona continued to provide the width to the defence. Gabriella Zahra and Veronique Mifsud continued their stay in midfield, while Edith Garcia Falero made her return from injury. Arianna Del Moral and Marta Grosso retained their places in the wide forward roles, flanking Sara Saliba.
Birkirkara Secure Strong Lead
There was no holiday hangover from the league leaders who took to the pitch like a duck to water determined to control the match from the off. However, the first chance came too early. Arianna Del Moral set the tone early on, releasing Edith Garcia Falero. Her cross was skied by Marta Grosso on the volley.
Valletta’s Sarah Vella Barberi responded by showing a good piece of skill to the better of her marker on the right wing and surging forward. However, the cross was collected by Janice Xuereb.
As the opening minutes expired, Birkirkara started to grow in possession and continuously edging further toward goal. Marta Grosso opened the scoring in the 13th minute side-footing a low cross from Arianna Del Moral. Valletta will be disappointed not to have intercepted the cross, while the power of Grosso’s shot was enough to find the back of the net through the goalkeeper.
The Stripes doubled the lead in the 17th minute through a set-piece. Sara Saliba rose high to bury Marta Grosso’s corner delivery into the top left corner of the goal.
As the half wore on, Birkirkara were rather wasteful with a number of finishes despite creating good spaces for the shot on multiple occasions. Despite this, Arianna Del Moral found the third just after the half-hour mark. The American darted in field and struck a low shot with her weaker left foot, which snuck into the near post.
Valletta continued to get penned further back and starved of the ball. Despite this, the side had opportunities to get themselves up the pitch by winning several free-kicks out wide in midfield. However, the delivery often left much to be desired, instead handing possession back to the Stripes. Their best opportunity arrived just before the half-time whistle. The delivery ran through to Eduarda Martins Souza but the Brazilian could not get much purchase with her back to goal, allowing Birkirkara’s Stephania Farrugia to clear.
Half-Time Score: Valletta 0 – 3 Birkirkara
Stripes Wrap Up Affairs Late In The Match
Jose’ Borg made two substitutions at the break, bringing on Alishia Sultana on the left wing and Raina Giusti as the central attacker, while Marta Grosso shifted centrally. The two making way were Veronique Mifsud and Sara Saliba.
Valletta started the second half with more attacking intent. Sarah Vella Barberi attempted to get Eduarda Martins Souza behind, before the former was released with a launched ball by Monique Sultana. However, Birkirkara’s defensive duo of Stephania Farrugia and Caitlin Rogers were alert to the danger on both occasions.
The Stripes responded with more opportunities, getting very close in the 50th minute as a low cross made its way to Edith Garcia Falero at the far post. However, she had too much time to think on it and smacked it straight into the post from the six-yard box. Valletta played themselves into further trouble four minutes later, allowing Raina Giusti to recover possession just outside the box. However, the number thirteen was high with the finish.
Complacency started to creep into the Stripes not just in attack but also in defence, which allowed Eduarda Martins Souza to snatch at an opportunity. However, Caitlin Rogers and Janice Xuereb managed to combine to block the first opportunity, before the moon-balled second attempt was captured by Xuereb.
Jose’ Borg made more changes in the 65th minute, bringing on Francesca Chircop in the centre of attack and Charlene Zammit to partner Stephania Farrugia. The two defenders took turns to create attacks from the back for the Stripes. Gabriella Zahra and Mariah Cardona were the ones making way leading to further shifts in positions. Caitlin Rogers moved into the holding midfield role, while Alishia Sultana retreated into left-back and Raina Giusti to the left forward role.
Ileana Farrugia continued her good work in the right full-back role, releasing Francesca Chircop whose cross was dealt with. Meanwhile Farrugia and Laura Muscat were deep in their own battle, with the latter at one point getting a few words from the referee but sneaking away without a booking.
More changes ensued in the final quarter of an hour with Ruth Steer-Chetham occupying the number ten role in replacement of Edith Garcia Falero. Meanwhile, Valletta’s Alicia Mifsud took to the pitch in the left back role. She replaced Eduarda Martins Souza, whose attacking role was picked up by Laura Muscat. Michela Bonello Ghio moved forward as the left winger.
Steer-Chetham got directly involved in the action releasing Francesca Chircop on the shoulder but Andressa de Souza Ramos was equal to the latter’s strike. Steer-Chetham was next to try to wriggle a placed shot into the net, but Valletta’s defense got enough on the shot to deflect it to a corner. Meanwhile, Arianna Del Moral continued her stellar work on the wing picking out teammates at will with cross after cross, but Birkirkara finishing left much to be desired.
Valletta had a final opportunity four minutes from time to put something into the box from a free-kick in midfield right by the touchline. However, the delivery was read by Charlene Zammit, who headed away with distance. Valletta’s Laura Muscat gave way to Kate Muscat shortly after, who slotted in the right-back role, pushing Miriana Conti as the striker.
The Stripes wrapped up the evening two minutes from time. Alishia Sultana glided forward on the left wing before crossing a low-ball to find Francesca Chircop unmarked in the box. The number seven fired into the roof of the net for the fourth and final goal of the night.
Final Score: Valletta 0 – 4 Birkirkara
Standings & Next Matches
The win takes Birkirkara’s tally to 34 points out front, while Valletta remain with 15 points in fifth-place. The Stripes will finish round two with a confrontation against Mgarr United on Friday 12th January at the Victor Tedesco Stadium (20:30). Valletta will hope for a better showing against nearest rivals San Gwann, whom they face on Saturday 13th at Mgarr Ground (16:30).
Until then there’s more Assikura Women’s League matches to unfold, with the highly-anticipated clash between Mgarr United and Swieqi United at the Victor Tedesco Stadium tonight (20:30). Tomorrow will finalise the opening weekend of 2024, as Hibernians meet San Gwann (14:00), followed by Lija Athletic & Mtarfa (16:30) at the Mgarr Ground.
Lead Image: Lara Schembri
Stay up to date by following The Sporting Fan on social media: Instagram ~ Facebook ~ X
