by Birkirkara FC lifted the U21 Women’s League Trophy for the second consecutive season on Sunday, after beating Raiders Lija FC by 3-1. Lexine Farrugia sparked Raiders Lija into the lead, before Valentina Rapa, Sara Saliba and Gaia Milan returned fire to earn the Stripes their victory.
Line-Ups
Raiders Lija FC coach Denis Guerra opted for a 4-3-3 system. Sabrin Blihi stood in goal behind the centre-back pairing of Georgiana Mifsud and captain Michela Bonello Ghio, while Gaia Antonelli and Eunice Micallef occupied the wide positions. The defense was fronted by the trio of Laura Muscat, Francesca Bartolo and Ylenia Grech. In attack, Lexine Farrugia was flanked by Hannah Khatib and Sarah Vella Barberi.
Meanwhile, Erika Muscat started between the sticks for Birkirkara FC. Coach Dorianne Theuma also fielded a back four with Ylenia Azzopardi partnering captain Valentina Rapa, while Maia Gauci and Mariah Cardona occupied the right and left back positions respectively. Izabella Camilleri and Veronique Mifsud stood in central midfield, while Ileana Farrugia and Gaia Milan provided the width. In front of them, Amelia Vassallo supported striker Sara Saliba.
An Even First-Half
The two sides cancelled each other out for lengthy periods in the first half. Though Birkirkara enjoyed early possession, strikes by Sara Saliba and Veronique Mifsud in the opening minutes missed the mark. Raiders Lija FC grew into the game and as the sides exchanged possession, it was the two defences that came out on top for the first half-hour of the match.
With through balls being expertly read by both sides, Lexine Farrugia attempted the audacious just as the first half-hour expired and in doing so, fired her team into the lead. The ball was rolled to Farrugia by Eunice Micallef before the explosive forward rolled her marker and swung a right boot from about thirty yards out which beat the goalkeeper by its sheer power.
However, the lead did not last long as Birkirkara’s Valentina Rapa drew level just four minutes later from a set-piece. Amelia Vassallo took charge of the kick, and although the goalkeeper was first to it she could not make it hers, allowing Rapa to stick out a boot and find the net from six yards.
A few minutes later, the Stripes’ had a chance to release Sara Saliba but Sabrin Blihi was first to collect. On the other hand, Raiders’ Laura Muscat earned her side a free-kick shortly after but Birkirkara were first to the ball. At the latter stages of the first half, Georgiana Mifsud and Francesca Bartolo did well to thwart an attack despite Raiders Lija having allowed Mariah Cardona to dash up the wing and fire in a cross.
Half-Time Score: Raiders Lija FC 1 – 1 Birkirkara FC
Saliba Fires the Stripes into the Lead
Raiders Lija started the second half on the front foot as Lexine Farrugia almost teed off Hannah Khatib, but the slightly overcooked pass allowed Erika Muscat to claim. The Stripes returned fire and fashioned a significant chance in the fifty-sixth minute. Gaia Milan did well to outpace her marker down the right wing, before crossing to Veronique Mifsud at the far post, however, her header sailed just wide of the mark.
The Stripes did get their reward though, with Sara Saliba nudging the side into the lead for the first time sixty-four minutes into the match. Veronique Mifsud displayed good accuracy and timing with the pass to pick out Saliba’s run. The striker still had plenty to do but brought it under control with one touch, before dribbling past the rushing goalkeeper with the next and then kept composure to hit home with a left-boot finish into the gaping net.
Guerra’s side attempted to get a quick response but a cross into the box was claimed by Muscat. A couple of minutes later Francesca Bartolo’s attempt to play Lexine Farrugia off the shoulder had slightly too much pace and once again Muscat was off her line to collect.
Milan Seals the Victory
Meanwhile, the Stripes were not comfortable with just the one goal lead and Ileana Farrugia fired a shot from outside the box shortly into the seventieth minute, but was wide of the mark. Birkirkara then displayed quick one-touch football on the left wing to get themselves into a three-versus-two situation on the attack, but Georgiana Mifsud got in a crucial tackle to put the ball out of play and allow her team to recover.
The Stripes had another opportunity to extend their lead early into the final ten minutes of the match, as Valentina Rapa’s long ball was not dealt with by Raiders’ defence, allowing Sara Saliba a free run at goal. However, despite taking it away from the rushing goalkeeper, she did not do as well with the finish which sailed just above the cross-bar.
With time running out, Raiders Lija’s Sarah Vella Barberi made up ground on the right wing, earning her team a corner. However, Birkirkara were first to the ball, and again following another corner shortly after. Lexine Farrugia followed this up with a dart up the left wing in the eighty-sixth minute, before cutting inside and letting fly, but Muscat was equal to it this time.
The goalkeeper then rolled the ball to her defense, who built an effective attack from the back to deliver the final blow. Quick short passes undid Raiders’ positioning, allowing Amelia Vassallo to thread a low ball for Saliba to chase. Sabrin Blihi did well to get a foot on the striker’s effort from the tight angle, however Gaia Milan was first to the loose ball. The Italian chested it down to bring it under control while simultaneously opening up the space away from the recovering defence, before finishing low into the bottom left corner to seal the victory with three minutes to stoppage time.
Celebrations ensued following the final whistle with the ultimate climax of joint captains Veronique Mifsud and Valentina Rapa lifting the trophy against a backdrop of celebrations. The victory marks consecutive championship wins for the young side.
Full-Time Score: Raiders Lija FC 1 – 3 Birkirkara FC
Photo: Birkirkara FC Youth Academy
