by Birkirkara displayed dominance from start to finish to grab a 3-1 victory, their first over the Owls in the league this year and one which tilts the title firmly towards them once more. Arianna Del Moral fired a brace to give the Stripes a strong lead at half-time. Substitute Sara Saliba scored the third early in the second-half. Dorianne Theuma got one back for Swieqi United late in the match.
Team Selections
Patricia Araujo stayed in goal for Swieqi United, behind an unchanged back-four of Jade Schembri, Rafanny Abache Mendoza, Tammy Falzon and Jessica Dimech. Captain Dorianne Theuma returned to the starting eleven, in midfield alongside Shona Zammit and Michaela Cachia. Jade Flask and Karima Abdulai started on the wings, while Salamatu Abdulai led the attacking line.
Birkirkara’s Janice Xuereb was protected by a four-player back-line, consisting of Valentina Rapa, captain Stephania Farrugia, Charlene Zammit and Ann-Marie Said. Caitlin Rogers continued occupying the defensive midfield role, with Marta Grosso and Veronique Mifsud orchestrating further forward. Francesca Chircop led the attack, flanked by Alishia Sultana and Arianna Del Moral.
B’Kara Steamroll Into The Lead
Swieqi United had the early chances, but could not make dividends from a corner, while Jade Flask headed goalward from a Karima Abdulai cross, but straight into the hands of Janice Xuereb who was well positioned to make the stop.
On the other hand, Birkirkara made their first corner opportunity pay to get themselves an early lead just six minutes in. Marta Grosso’s initial delivery was fired goalward by Stephania Farrugia. Although Patricia Araujo made the save, Arianna Del Moral tapped home the loose ball. The Birkirkara faithful made their voices heard, despite a few from Swieqi United’s side urging belief into their team.
The battle ensued with Birkirkara commanding more and more of the possession. The Stripes’ skipper Stephania Farrugia led by example in pushing the team forward with an early surge. By the twentieth minute, Birkirkara had the match by the scruff of the neck. Caitlin Rogers, Veronique Mifsud and Marta Grosso were completely dominating the midfield and successfully winning any attempted build-up from Swieqi United’s defence, together with the help of their forwards.
Pressure piled on Swieqi United and the Stripes made it pay of in the 27th minute. An initial attempt by Alishia Sultana struck the post, before Rafanny Abache Mendoza cleared Francesca Chircop’s rebound off the line. However, there was little distance to the second clearance, instead finding Arianna Del Moral, who positioned inside the penalty box fired the second of the night into the roof of the net.
The Stripes circled like vultures pressuring more mistakes from the rattled defence. However, the Owls were given respite by an offside flag that denied Alishia Sultana a free-run on goal.
Swieqi United earned themselves a corner after managing to string a rare run of play on the half-hour mark. Dorianne Theuma tested Janice Xuereb who punched out before the defence cleared with distance. Still the attack, and the captain’s cajoling, injected some momentary positive momentum into Swieqi United.
Another good combination followed, with Jessica Dimech attempting to release Michaela Cachia behind who made the forward run, but was sent wide by the pass. The situation was expertly read by Stephania Farrugia who continued setting the level, using her strength well to cover for a goal-kick. The good spell of play continued, with Salamatu Abdulai winning a free-kick for the team to get forward. Dorianne Theuma delivered into the box but no one managed to get the touch, with the Stripes’ Janice Xuereb untroubled for a goalkick.
Birkirkara switched back into offensive gear and almost bagged a third in the 38th minute. A cross from the right wing caught Swieqi United’s defence napping once more. Marta Grosso was well poised to fire a shot from inside the box, forcing a diving save from Patricia Araujo to deny the Italian.
Half-Time Score: Swieqi United 0 – 2 Birkirkara
B’Kara Put Match To Bed
Birkirkara’s Jose Borg freshened up the attack at half-time, swapping Francesca Chircop with Sara Saliba. The Owls attempted to get themselves back into it. However, a long-range effort from Dorianne Theuma was off-target, before Jade Schembri’s attempt to find Jade Flask with a cross was well dealt with by Birkirkara.
Rafanny Abache Mendoza and Stephania Farrugia had their own match going as the Venezuelan surged forward with the Birkirkara skipper forcing her wide. Swieqi United managed to cross into the box from the resulting throw-in, but Janice Xuereb was off her line to punch out once more.
Any belief of a comeback in the Owls and their supporters was deflated as the 57th minute rolled in. Sara Saliba latched onto a loose ball as the Owls attempted to play out and the youngster needed no second invitation. She took it in her stride, dribbled past the goalkeeper and fired into the gaping net with her left boot to grab the third for the team. Chants of ‘seven consecutive titles’ ensued from the Birkirkara stands, driving the point home to the Swieqi United faithful.
B’Kara Denied By Crossbar, Swieqi Grab Late Goal
Swieqi United attempted a response once more. Shona Zammit linked with Jade Flask who made an infield run. She released Salamatu Abdulai, who tried to place home from the tight angle but saw the effort go wide.
However, lapses in concentration continued to trouble the Owls, with a few giving the ball away cheaply or else completely outmatched by Birkirkara’s desire for more. The Stripes were denied a fourth in the 69th minute, twice. Marta Grosso delivered from a corner, which Stephania Farrugia headed goal-ward, forcing a palm away from Patricia Araujo. Arianna Del Moral followed up with another header but it lacked control, ultimately the hat-trick by the crossbar.
Swieqi United’s only substitution ensued, with Kaysia Micallef making an appearance in replacement of Salamatu Abdulai in the 73rd minute. Micallef slotted on the left wing, pushing Jade Flask into the central striker role. Birkirkara’s Veronique Mifsud and Alishia Sultana gave way shortly after. Nanako Kobayashi slotted alongside Caitlin Rogers, while Gabriella Zahra took the more advanced midfield role. Marta Grosso shifted to the left wing.
Swieqi United’s Shona Zammit and Michaela Cachia linked going forward, with Zammit dinking a ball for Cachia to volley. However, the youngster did not manage to keep the shot down.
Despite this, Cachia continued being one of the few positive standouts for Swieqi United. Mirroring her captain in the relentless work ethic, the youngster dribbled past two markers to get space for a cross on the left wing. Birkirkara’s clearance ricocheted straight into the path of Dorianne Theuma, who fired home on the turn from the six-yard box to ruin the Stripes’ clean sheet in the 82nd minute.
Cachia continued to build well, finding Kaysia Micallef, who released Jade Flask wide. However, Stephania Farrugia shut the door once more. Birkirkara’s train continued going at full speed until the final moments. However, they were denied a fourth through an off-the-line clearance by Jade Schembri. Dorianne Theuma’s attempt to release Kaysia Micallef in the other direction was read by Nanako Kobayashi, before a late cross from Michaela Cachia was headed out by Charlene Zammit.
Final Score: Swieqi United 1 – 3 Birkirkara
Standings & Next Matches
The Stripes mark their first victory over Swieqi United in the league this season with a dominant performance that puts them eight points clear at the top of the table, and perhaps with one hand on the trophy with four matches to go.
The defending champions return against Hibernians on the 2nd March at Mgarr Ground (14:00). Meanwhile, Swieqi United will seek to bounce back against Mgarr United later in the afternoon (16:30), at the same venue.
However, more football will be played before the teams stop for the international break. Hibernians and Mgarr United promise another exciting battle tonight at the Victor Tedesco Stadium (20:30). Tomorrow will conclude proceedings with a double-header at Dingli Ground, where Lija Athletic and San Gwann continue their fight for second-place in the bottom four (14:00), before Valletta meet Mtarfa at 16:30.
Lead Image: Lara Schembri
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[…] on the bearing of the title and in my opinion we had an almost perfect performance to bring home a 3-1 win against our closest rivals. I will say that this puts us in a much better position toward earning […]
[…] two teams come into it determined to improve showings following defeats to Birkirkara and Hibernians, respectively, just before the break. Matches between the two have gone either way, […]