Birkirkara Head Into International Break With Victory Over Mtarfa

The Stripes were firing on all cylinders to ensure a 10-0 victory over Mtarfa, despite the difficult conditions. Alishia Sultana and Francesca Chircop grabbed a brace. Marta Grosso, Stephania Farrugia, Arianna Del Moral, Ileana Farrugia and Stella Francalanza completed the scoring, while there was also an own goal.

Team Selections

Mtarfa’s Simon Spiteri opted for the experience of captain Dorienne Grech in goal. Rebecca Zammit continued to partner Shania Spiteri in the centre of defence, with Elisa Azzopardi and Corine Deguara providing the width. Elisa Csik occupied to holding midfield role. In front of her were the duo of Kerrie Ciappara and Oumayma Jelili. Paula Ciappara and Angele Fenech started in the wide roles. Estelle Borg was the sole striker.

Meanwhile, there was a change between the sticks for Birkirkara, with youngster Erika Muscat taking to the pitch. Valentina Rapa continued to partner captain Stephania Farrugia. Mariah Cardona made a start as the right-back, while Ann-Marie Said continued her stay on the left. Caitlin Rogers protected the defence, with Veronique Mifsud and Marta Grosso orchestrating further forward. Arianna Del Moral and Alishia Sultana occupied the wide forward roles, while Edith Garcia Falero was preferred in the centre of attack.

Three Goals In Six Minutes

The Stripes were not in the mood to dawdle in their quest for the win and in fact opened the scoring within the second minute of the match. Arianna Del Moral made ground on the left wing, before crossing toward Alishia Sultana who placed home the opening goal.

The Blues struggled to keep Del Moral quiet on the left wing, with the American next teeing up Marta Grosso with a low cut-back, which the Italian placed into the top left corner.

The Stripes kept piling forward but Dorienne Grech met a cross from Alishia Sultana to try to keep her team in it. Despite this, Birkirkara found the third from their first corner kick of the match in the sixth minute. Marta Grosso delivered toward Stephania Farrugia, who buried the header into the bottom corner, unchallenged.

Stripes Extend Lead

The Blues attempts to launch themselves forward through long-kicks proved unsuccessful. Despite this, Paula Ciappara tried to make something happen for her team on the right-wing, but was crowded out by the Stripes. At the other end, Dorienne Grech was being worked by the Stripes. Veronique Mifsud placed a ball to release Alishia Sultana behind, but Grech won the duel.

However, the windy conditions exacerbated things for the Blues as Arianna Del Moral curled a cross which deflected into the net just over the quarter hour mark. The fifth arrived in the 26th minute, with Marta Grosso crossing toward the same Del Moral. Although she hit the post with the attempt, the ball rebounded into Angele Fenech and ended into her own net.

The Stripes made it six just over the half-hour mark. Edith Garcia Falero snuck behind the Mtarfa defence, before playing a ball across to Alishia Sultana. Dorienne Grech got something on the attempted dribble, but could not hold the ball. Birkirkara’s number nine placed home from the loose pickings.

Mtarfa were still unable to get much going in attack but Angele Fenech and Shania Spiteri were both involved in thwarting further chances for the Stripes. The Blues had an opportunity to launch forward after winning a free-kick in their own half. Rebecca Zammit sent a searching ball which Paula Ciappara attempted to capitalise on by looping in Estelle Borg. However, Valentina Rapa read the play just in time for the half-time whistle.

Half-Time Score: Mtarfa 0 – 6 Birkirkara

Substitutes Make Their Mark

Birkirkara’s Jose’ Borg made all five substitutions at the break. Valentina Rapa made way for Izabella Camilleri. Veronique Mifsud, Arianna Del Moral and Edith Garcia Falero were directly replaced by Amelia Vassallo, Ileana Farrugia and Francesca Chircop. Ann-Marie Said also made way to Stella Francalanza. The youngster slotted into the wide midfield, while Mariah Cardona switched to the left-back role.

Birkirkara’s substitutes got immediately involved with Amelia Vassallo almost being teed up by Alishia Sultana. However, Mtarfa’s defence put enough pressure for Vassallo to loop the ball over. Sultana was also released by Izabella Camilleri in what became a repeated pattern of play over the half that the Blues struggled to deal with. However, this time Marta Grosso was the one denied the opportunity to convert Sultana’s cross.

Meanwhile, Elisa Csik made another characteristic dart up the pitch, drawing a foul in midfield. However, Mtarfa could not make it count. Simon Spiteri made the only change of the match in bringing on Maria Abdilla in replacement of Angele Fenech on the 57th minute.

Ileana Farrugia was the first to get the goalscoring going again, in the 57th minute. The substitute darted inside the box and struck, with the low bounce defeating the goalkeeper at the near post.

Following the break Mtarfa, were managing to frustrate the Stripes with the offside trap quite a bit, which prompted calls from Jose Borg for his forwards to improve their concentration. Mariah Cardona was next to hit the post with a similar strike to Ileana Farrugia.

The Stripes showed signs of settling down into a rhythm following the large number of subsitutions, with Amelia Vassallo, Stella Francalanza and Francesca Chircop linking well. However, the latter’s strike was saved by Dorienne Grech.

Meanwhile, Caitlin Rogers was still on the march, intercepting everything that got as far as midfield from Mtarfa. Captain Stephania Farrugia was urging more focus against a few nonchalant attitudes developing on the pitch due to the strong lead.

Francesca Chircop opened her account for the day in the 78th minute to grab Birkirkara’s eighth. She fired a left boot to send the ball across to the right corner, after Rogers saw her effort blocked.

There were more opportunities with Alishia Sultana still on her bike and determined to keep the team searching for more. She connected with a cross from Ileana Farrugia but got underneath the finish. Despite this, Stella Francalanza made it nine, converting deflected corner delivery from Marta Grosso into the right side of the goal. There were appeals from Mtarfa, that the Stripes handled the ball in the box, but these were dismissed by the officials.

Mtarfa’s Elisa Csik made another dart up the pitch, however was not on the same wavelength with Paula Ciappara when looking for a quick combination, which allowed the Stripes to recover possession. A few minutes later, Shania Spiteri also attempted to play out from the back, but found limited support which also led to the Blues to relinquishing possession.

Francesca Chircop made it ten for the team and a brace for herself by tapping home a cross from Alishia Sultana three minutes from normal time.

Final Score: Mtarfa 0 – 10 Birkirkara

Standings & International Break

The Stripes will be happy to have gotten a commanding win to take with them into the break. It sees them take their tally to 22 points and with a game in hand, which means they could still equal Hibernians at the top. Birkirkara will return to action against San Gwann on the 8th of December at 16:30 (Centenary Stadium).

Meanwhile, Mtarfa will hope to regroup over the break and muster a better performance against Mgarr United on the 9th of December (14:00, Mgarr Ground). The Greens will go into the match buoyant following their 4-1 victory over Valletta.

Until then focus turns to the international matches, which will mark the return of the final stint of the UEFA Women’s Nations League. Malta’s selection will by vying for promotion against Moldova on the 1st of December (15:00), before playing the final match at the Centenary Stadium, Ta Qali against Latvia on the 5th December (16:00). Tickets for that match may be purchased online.

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