by Birkirkara earned themselves the three points with a 6 – 0 victory against Mtarfa. Erica Bispo got things going and earned a brace on the night, while Luana Vitoria Cabral grabbed a hat-trick. Maia Gauci completed the scoring with her first senior goal for the Stripes.
Team Selections
Maya Cachia continued her stay in goal behind a changed defence featuring Martina Fenech, Izabella Camilleri, Valentina Rapa and Mariah Cardona. Gabriella Zahra captained the side, with Luana Vitoria Cabral and Yuna Hazekawa continuing to operate in midfield. Erica Bispo led the attack, flanked by Francesca Chircop and Raina Giusti.
Meanwhile, Mtarfa’s captain Dorienne Grech returned in goal. Maria Abdilla started in the right wing-back position, while Claire Versteegh continued to operate on the left. Rebecca Zammit started in the centre of defence with Paula Ciappara and Elisa Azzopardi. Kerrie Ciappara continued to protect the defence, with Eliza Csik and Nicole Espinel Bautista operating further forward. Danna Fuentes Alvarez supported Saleisha Ghigo.
How It Unfolded
Birkirkara looked to get an early start. Raina Giusti was accurate with a placed shot into the top right corner, but the timing of her run denied her from breaking the deadlock, with the first goal chalked off by the offside flag in the third minute.
It was instead Erica Bispo who opened the scoring in the 6th minute, picking up a loose clearance from a corner on the edge of the box and putting her foot through it. Dorienne Grech got fingertips on the shot, but could not keep it out.
The Stripes kept searching for more, with Luana Vitoria Cabral starting to threaten with runs behind the defence and doubling the score in the 13th minute. The Brazilian ran free into the box and caressed it into the net from the six-yard box, assisted by a cross from Francesca Chircop, with Mtarfa’s defence caught ball-watching.
Birkirkara’s number eight almost found the third just a minute later, with another run behind the defence. Despite showing great technique to bring it under control, pulled the placement of the shot just wide. She was denied once more miutes later with Dorienne Grech coming to make a sliding tackle to deny the opportunity for the shot.
However, Erica Bispo found her second of the evening and third for Birkirkara in the 20th minute, with the two goalscorers combining for the goal. Bispo placed it into the bottom left corner of the net, following a square ball from Luana Vitoria Cabral who made the dart behind once more.
The one way train kept going with Luana Vitoria Cabral grabbing the fourth goal in the 25th minute with another low shot into the net. She made it a hat-trick in the 38th minute, with a lifted ball to beat Dorienne Grech who was coming out to meet her.
The Stripes could have had more in the opening, with complete command of possession and creating more than a few chances from open play and set-piece opportunities. Valentina Rapa and Izabella Camilleri could have both gotten on the scoresheet, having been picked out by Yuna Hazekawa from corner deliveries.
Francesca Chircop also had a golden opportunity after being picked out by Martina Fenech who had done plenty of hard-work to get the cross away from the byline. However, Birkirkara’s number seven could not keep the shot down, despite making a good run into the box.
Half-Time Score: Birkirkara 5 – 0 Mtarfa
Birkirkara’s Vince Galea made all five changes at the break, refreshing the attack by bringing on Ruth Steer-Chetham instead of Erica Bispo, with the number ten occupying a more retreated position. Maia Gauci replaced Raina Giusti, while Mariah Cardona also gave way to Calista Schechinger. Luana Vitoria Cabral gave way to Stella Francalanza, while Gabriella Zahra was replaced by Lara May Azzopardi who slotted on the right wing. Valentina Rapa took the captain’s armband.
Having taken a knock in the first half, Mtarfa’s Paula Ciappara also gave way to Katya Camilleri.
Despite the large number of changes, Birkirkara picked up where they left off. Lara May Azzopardi was lively from the off, released by Yuna Hazekawa before attempting the shot. However, the youngster pulled it wide from the far post. Francesca Chircop also looked to set up Ruth Steer-Chetham shortly after, but the substitute side-footed it wide.
Mtarfa responded with a positive charge by Maria Abdilla, who earned the side a free-kick. However, Birkirkara’s Yuna Hazekawa read the delivery well before sending the Stripes on a quick transition, which Dorienne Grech nipped in time.
Birkirkara’s Maia Gauci put her name on the scoresheet, grabbing Birkirkara’s sixth, in the 59th minute. She rebounded the ball into the net from close range after Dorienne Grech had initially saved the effort by Francesca Chircop.
Despite continuing to come under heavy pressure, Mtarfa earned themselves an opportunity for an attempt as Eliza Csik was brought down in the final third. Rebecca Zammit took charge of the kick, sending it toward Maya Cachia who was ready to clutch in the air.
The Blues were hard at work, with Elisa Azzopardi doing well to marshal Martina Fenech out of room to deny an opportunity for the cross, while Eliza Csik and Nicole Espinel Bautista were still both trying to find a way to get the team forward.
As the final fifteen minutes wore on, Danna Fuentes Alvarez showed good hold-up play before releasing Claire Versteegh who made the run for the overlap. However, Valentina Rapa took control of the situation.
Still, the opportunity gave Mtarfa some forward belief, which they used to good effect in the 83rd minute once more. Danna Fuentes Alvarez shrugged off the challenge, before sending Saleisha Ghigo forward. The youngster returned the pass for Fuentes Alvarez who made the space for the shot from outside the box. However, Maya Cachia was well positioned to make the save from the long-range effort. Mtarfa made a final change with Emily Gatt coming on to replace Elisa Azzopardi for the final minutes.
Birkirkara continued to rotate play in search of finding more goals, with Stella Francalanza looking to bend a ball for Ruth Steer-Chetham to get behind. However, she was covered by Maria Abdilla who was happy to concede the corner, which the Blues defended.
Yuna Hazekawa also lined an effort from a free-kick but was wide with the finish. The Japanese midfielder was still hard at work in the final throes of the match, winning possession high up the pitch before finding Francesca Chircop. The forward managed the shot from between her marker’s legs, but Dorienne Grech hugged the ground to make the save.
Final Score: Birkirkara 6 – 0 Mtarfa
Next Matches
Birkirkara close off the first round commitments with sixteen points. The kick-start the second round against San Gwann on Saturday 19th at Dingli Ground at 15:00. The encounter will be followed by the match between Mtarfa and Mgarr United, starting at 17:30.
Tonight presents a clash between San Gwann and Valletta who will battle it out at the Victor Tedesco Stadium at 20:30, with sights set on potentially finishing the round in fifth place. Saturday will close off the first round commitments with a direct clash for third place between Swieqi United and Mgarr United at 15:00 at Dingli Ground, before Lija Athletic welcome Hibernians at 17:30.
Lead Image: Lara Schembri
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