by Birkirkara made a confident return to the league with a 5-0 victory over San Gwann. Veronique Mifsud broke the deadlock, before Raina Giusti and Francesca Chircop each grabbed a brace to complete the scoring.
Team Selections
Justyne Caruana continued to protect San Gwann’s goal. Captain Annabelle Rapa led the defensive line alongside Sarah Cioffi who retained her place, while Tracy Axiak was called up to complete the trio. Nicole Saliba and Rabab Mhalli occupied the wing-back roles. Fatma Al Girbi partnered Chaimaa Tourki in midfield, while Andjela Kricak also made her first appearance after a month on the sidelines. Francesca Zarb partnered Yasmin Attard in attack.
Meanwhile, Janice Xuereb retained her place in goal for Birkirkara. As hinted by Jose Borg in the preview, Stephania Farrugia and Ann-Marie Said both dropped to the bench, while Charlene Zammit made her first appearance since being sidelined with injury against Swieqi United. She started in the right-back role, while Mariah Cardona filled in on the left. Valentina Rapa partnered Caitlin Rogers in centre-defence. Gabriella Zahra started in the holding midfield role, fronted by Veronique Mifsud and Marta Grosso who retained their places. Raina Giusti made her first appearance since mid-November in the wide left role, while Arianna Del Moral started on the right. Edith Garcia Falero led the attack.
Mifsud & Giusti Get The Stripes Going
Birkirkara were not in the mood to dawdle and appeared to be unfazed by the number of changes in the starting eleven. Edith Garcia Falero found the net inside the first three minutes but saw her goal chalked off for offside. Despite this, the intent was clear.
Arianna Del Moral was bright on the right wing, breezing past her marker before picking out her crosses. She found Marta Grosso lurking in the box five minutes in, but the Italian’s low placed shot was well saved by Justyne Caruana.
Birkirkara’s Raina Giusti attempted to find the net from a free-kick but she was wide of the post. Meanwhile, San Gwann stood strong to defend against a corner. Justyne Caruana was assertive a quarter of an hour in, snuffing out another low cross from Arianna Del Moral, who was well found following Charlene Zammit’s dart up the pitch.
Veronique Mifsud looked settled in the match, picking out the forwards at will, before charging into the box to fire Birkirkara into the lead 24 minutes into it. She finished a cut-back into the top right corner.
The Yellows will have been frustrated to concede another just one minute after. Veronique Mifsud was involved once more, releasing Raina Giusti who had swapped with Arianna Del Moral on the right wing. The number thirteen darted inside the box, before coolly placing a low shot into the net to double the lead.
San Gwann struggled to get out, while the Stripes were all lining up to get themselves on the scoresheet. Marta Grosso lined up a shot three minutes later, but it sailed just above the crossbar. Gabriella Zahra next delivered a free-kick deep into the box, however, Veronique Mifsud was denied a second by the crossbar. Valentina Rapa followed up with a looped header but San Gwann’s defence won a free-kick to relieve the pressure.
Things took a sour turn for the Stripes, whose Edith Garcia Falero appeared unable to shake off a knock picked up earlier in the match. The Uruguayan was replaced by Francesca Chircop 36 minutes into it.
San Gwann’s Chaimaa Tourki won a free-kick in midfield to get the team up the pitch forty minutes in. However, Birkirkara quickly reclaimed possession before surging forward through Francesca Chircop. She found Raina Giusti, but her low cross found no target at the far post.
The Yellows’ captain Annabelle Rapa led the team forward close to the half-time whistle. She linked with Rabab Mhalli who combined with short passes to get into the final third before looping in Andjela Kricak. However, the two were not on the same wavelength for the final ball to get Mhalli behind the defensive line. Birkirkara countered quickly, with Francesca Chircop attempting to curl one into the far post, but Justyne Caruana got a hand on it for a corner which the defence cleared.
Half-Time Score: San Gwann 0 – 2 Birkirkara
Stripes Extend Lead
Both sides made changes in the break. Julian Camilleri replaced Nicole Saliba with Katrin Abela. Meanwhile, Jose’ Borg brought on Alishia Sultana and Ann-Marie Said in direct swaps with Arianna Del Moral and Mariah Cardona, respectively. Veronique Mifsud also gave way to Stephania Farrugia who slotted in the heart of the defence, pushing Caitlin Rogers into the holding midfield role, while Gabriella Zahra pushed up field.
The Stripes’ Raina Giusti almost increased the tally two minutes into the half. She curled a shot toward the top corner, which Justyne Caruana got fingertips on to keep out before making it hers.
However, San Gwann responded with their best opportunity on the 50th minute, by releasing Yasmin Attard behind the Birkirkara defence. Eyeing Janice Xuereb who came out to meet her, the forward attempted to lob the goalkeeper, but it lacked the accuracy to find the net.
Charlene Zammit continued to do just fine in the full-back role, earning the Stripes a free-kick right by the corner flag. However, Justyne Caruana snuffed out Ann-Marie Said’s delivery. Meanwhile, Alishia Sultana was enjoying herself out wide, speeding past her markers and pinging crosses at will.
Ruth Steer-Chetham made an appearance off the bench in the 54th minute, replacing Charlene Zammit. The forward led the line, pushing Francesca Chircop out onto the right wing, while Alishia Sultana retreated in to the full-back role.
Francesca Chircop headed home the third goal for the team just a minute later, rebounding Gabriella Zahra’s effort which hit the crossbar. Stephania Farrugia created the attack with a long ball to get Zahra free on goal.
Caitlin Rogers was the next to rattle the woodwork from a corner that appeared out of a training ground routine, involving also Ann-Marie Said who helped on Marta Grosso’s delivery. Unable to get out, Justyne Caruana was still doing a good job at snuffing out crosses from the Birkirkara full-backs who were pushing high into the attack.
Despite this, Francesca Chircop doubled her tally in the 66th minute by latching onto a cross before lobbing the keeper and finishing into the net.
San Gwann’s Julian Camilleri attempted to freshen up the attack by bringing on Kya Mamo in replacement of Francesca Zarb. Meanwhile, noticing the team inviting further pressure by retreating back, captain Annabelle Rapa urged her team to push out in attempt to limit the Stripes. The Yellows managed to get themselves a throw-in high up the pitch but could not create a meaningful opportunity. Andjela Kricak also won a free-kick in midfield but Birkirkara reclaimed possession without too much trouble.
However, San Gwann looked to be onto something with fifteen minutes to go, as Annabelle Rapa cleared a corner toward Andjela Kricak. The Serbian attempted to release Yasmin Attard behind but Marta Grosso read the ball well to deny her a free-run on goal.
Raina Giusti made it five for the Stripes four minutes from normal time, with a left-footed effort from the edge of the box that nestled into the top right corner.
Final Score: San Gwann 0 – 5 Birkirkara
Standings & Next Matches
San Gwann’s defeat sees them unable to close the gap to Valletta ahead of them. The Yellows will set their eyes on the upcoming encounter against Mtarfa, whom they will face on Friday 15th December at the Victor Tedesco Stadium (20:30).
Meanwhile, Birkirkara will be buoyed by the confident victory which sees them edge closer to the top of the table, just one point adrift of leaders Hibernians who drew against Swieqi United earlier in the afternoon, and with a game in hand.
Birkirkara will next seek to get their hands on the first piece of silverware this season, the Super Cup. They will contest Swieqi United for it at the Centenary Stadium on Wednesday 13th December at 15:00. Tickets for the final will be available for purchase from the Clubhouse for Birkirkara supporters and online for Swieqi United supporters.
Lead Image: Lara Schembri
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[…] and San Gwann head into the match on the back of losses to Mgarr United and Birkirkara, respectively. Both games dealt the sides with tough scorelines, with limited opportunity to […]