Late Penalty Hands Hibernians First Victory Over Birkirkara Since Return

Hibernians secured a late 1-0 victory to deal Birkirkara their second defeat this season. Kiley Norkus converted a penalty in injury time, after Alexis Espitia was deemed to have been brought down in the box.

Team Selections

Birkirkara’s Janice Xuereb started in goal behind an unchanged back four in Valentina Rapa, Charlene Zammit, captain Stephania Farrugia and Ann-Marie Said. Gabriella Zahra, Marta Grosso and Veronique Mifsud occupied the midfield. Arianna Del Moral and Alishia Sultana provided the width to Sara Saliba in attack.

Maya Muscat continued her stay in goal for Hibernians. There were two changes in defence, as Amber Galea partnered Natalee Geren in the centre of the defence instead of Amy Busuttil. Chloe Ellul also returned to the starting eleven and together with Kiley Norkus provided the width in defence. Kayleigh Chetcuti was the skipper in the absence of both Martina Borg and Nicole Sciberras. She partnered Federica Zahra in front of the defence, while Sarah Urpani operated further forward. Alexis Espitia and Yolande Attard occupied the flanks, while Leah Ayres was the sole attacker.

How It Unfolded

The game kicked off with a cloud of tension hanging in the air that set the tone for the match. Hibernians were the first to claim a penalty due to a hands-ball in the box, but the referee waived it away.

The league leaders responded with their first chances from a corner kick as Charlene Zammit attempted to head home Marta Grosso’s delivery. However, Hibernians cleared, while Ann-Marie Said’s rebound was cleared for another corner. Birkirkara attempted a different approach, with Grosso trying to link Veronique Mifsud at the edge of the box. However, Hibernians stood strong.

The Stripes’ Ann-Marie Said launched a ball for Marta Grosso to race behind the defence a quarter of an hour into it, but Maya Muscat was quickly out to diffuse the situation. However, in general Amber Galea and Natalee Geren were doing well to keep the Stripes away from goal.

Birkirkara were the next to claim a penalty in the 20th minute which was also not awarded. There was little end product for either team, with neither able to convert from set-pieces, while long-range efforts from Marta Grosso and Kayleigh Chetcuti flew off-target. Alishia Sultana came closest just before the end of the first half, but saw her low effort to find the far corner skimm wide of the mark.

Jose’ Borg made two changes at the break, bringing on Francesca Chircop in a direct switch with Sara Saliba. Meanwhile, Nanako Kobayashi took to the pitch instead of Veronique Mifsud. The Japanese player slotted in the holding midfield role, while Gabriella Zahra pushed further forward.

Kobayashi’s introduction was a crucial difference in the midfield battle, giving Birkirkara a stronger footing, leading to little respite for Hibernians’ defence as the match wore on. Despite this, Hibernians were keen on staying compact at the back.

The Paolites picked their spots to try to create trouble going forward, with Leah Ayres and Stephania Farrugia rekindling their battle once more. Meanwhile, Ann-Marie Said and Alexis Espitia were leaving their mark on each other as well.

Stephania Farrugia attempted to cajole her team’s momentum with a surge up the pitch. Natalee Geren was quickly on her her bike to close out Birkirkara’s captain, with the two leaving their mark on each other and the American coming worse off.

The Stripes attempted to convert from more corner and free-kick opportunities, before appealing another penalty as they deemed Alishia Sultana to have been fouled in the box. However, the officials waived away the claims once more.

Jose’ Borg handed striker Hailey Russell her debut in the 73rd minute, with Valentina Rapa being the one to give way. The Stripes switched into a four-player attacking system, with Nanako Kobayashi moving into right-back.

The contest slowly turned into a mockery of a match as players increasingly left marks on each other, while the officials were reluctant to stop play. Still, Birkirkara continued piling forward. Gabriella Zahra attempted to convert a deep cross from Ann-Marie Said, but Maya Muscat shifted well to save at the near post. Natalee Geren made another crucial interception five minutes from time to deny Alishia Sultana from finding her strikers in the box.

Having soaked up the pressure, Hibernians grew stronger going forward into the final minutes with Leah Ayres released behind the defence to start injecting uncertainty at the back for the Stripes. However, Janice Xuereb was quickly off her line to clear.

Kenneth Costantino made the first switch in the 86th minute, bringing on Nyorah Celeste in replacement of Federica Zahra. Celeste slotted on the left wing, pushing Yolande Attard more centrally.

Hibernians earned themselves a free-kick on the left-wing, with both Alishia Sultana and Jose’ Borg picking up bookings in the process. Natalee Geren came close to giving her team the lead two minutes from time, with a direct free-kick, but her effort to find the far top corner was just wide.

The Paolites continued the build in momentum with another free-kick from Geren, which this time was knocked down by Nyorah Celeste for Alexis Espitia, who struck sweetly. However, Janice Xuereb made the save.

The Birkirkara defence was undone once more with Alexis Espitia being the one released behind. The American attempted to dribble past the onrushing goalkeeper, with the referee deeming her clipped in the process and thus finally awarding a claim by pointing to the spot. Kiley Norkus converted into the right side of the goal to send her team into euphoria and Hibernians’ supporters into song in injury time.

Birkirkara attempted to find a response through Charlene Zammit who fired from distance forcing Maya Muscat to palm it over the bar. However, the Stripes could not convert the corner, despite Janice Xuereb also going up in support. Hibernians saw out the final minutes of the match.

Final Score: Birkirkara 0 – 1 Hibernians

Standings & Next Matches

Hibernians mark their first victory over the Stripes not only this season, but since their return to the women’s league. In doing so they take their tally to 41 points, while Birkirkara see their lead cut back to five points, after Swieqi United secured a 3-0 victory over Mgarr United later in the afternoon.

Hibernians and Swieqi United will kick-off the final round of fixtures on Thursday 7th March at the Centenary Stadium (20:15). Birkirkara will meet Mgarr United on Friday 8th March at the Victory Tedesco Stadium (20:30).

Lead Image: Lara Schembri

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