by Birkirkara enter the penultimate fixture in strong form, having secured consecutive wins over top-three opposition and now targeting a first victory against champions Mgarr United this season. With squad depth stretched, Charlene Zammit emphasised adaptability and discipline, while Mgarr arrive following a heavily rotated win over San Gwann, with Ryan Vella continuing to test tactical options while preserving an unbeaten league campaign.
In Form & Ready To Go
Birkirkara will be facing league champions Mgarr United for the final time in the league this year, in a penultimate match where the Stripes will take on the challenge of overcoming the Greens for the first time this year.
The Stripes head into it on good form, with four wins in the last four matches, two of which came against top three teams – Hibernians and most recently a 1 – 0 win against Swieqi United. Maximising points in these last two matches could enable Birkirkara to finish on equal points with Hibernians, should the latter falter to earn points against Swieqi United and Mgarr United (whom they face in the final two fixtures).
“It’s a very important moment for us, especially in terms of finishing the season on a positive note,” Charlene Zammit replied on the impact of these matches on the campaign. “These results give the players real belief in what they are capable of when they work together as a team. However, we must stay focused and grounded. We know there is still work to do, but it’s encouraging to see that we can compete at that level consistently.”
Mgarr United earned a 6 – 1 victory against San Gwann – flexing depth with several rotations deployed by Ryan Vella, “I was very pleased with how the players performed. It shows that all players are ready to step up when given the chance and that for me is super important. Even though there were some changes, the team still did really well tactically in all phases and we managed to put out a very good performance and win against a very organised side.”
Welcomed Returns To Boost Squad Depth
Birkirkara continue to operate without a long list of players who began the start of the season including, Julia Zarb, Mariah Cardona and Amy Busuttil, among others.
However, Charlene Zammit welcomed the boost in the return of Haruhi Sekura from injury against Swieqi United, “Haruhi’s return is very important for us at this stage of the season. Together with Steph(ania Farrugia), she brings real leadership and stability at the back. Beyond her performances, she also plays a key role in guiding the younger players, which is valuable for the team as a whole. Having her back gives us more balance, experience, and confidence defensively.”
On the flip side, Mgarr United have also been a side struck by injuries, with the match against San Gwann raising several talking points.
Rotations on the field were not just in personnel, but also in position, with Leanne Cefai displaying her distribution in a right-back role, with the player also contributing a key pass for the opener.
Ryan Vella gave insight into the possibility of a longer-term utility in this position, “We decided to try Leanne in a different role as we knew that she has all the capabilities to play there. Right now we’re testing some things out to see what works and what doesn’t as this gives us the ability to plan clearer for the upcoming games and season.”
At the same time, the match featured the first glimpse of Veronique Mifsud this season, who made a long-awaited return from injury, having been sidelined since February of last year. She chipped in with a goal directly from the corner flag.
The Mgarr United coach was understandably elated, “Veronique gives us a huge boost as her technical abilities and presence in the pitch gives us something a bit different to what we have already. She’s a goal threat while at the same time she’s able to find key passes that only few players can play. We look forward to having her back fully as she’ll be an integral part of our journey moving forward.”
Giving an update on those still on the sidelines, Vella replied that Alejandra Villegas Caly is back training with the team and expected to feature in matchday squads soon.
Can Birkirkara Make It Five Of Five?
The match tonight will be one to look at with keen eyes for those following Birkirkara’s resurgence. Mgarr United remain the only top three teams for them to beat, but then again, it is a team that none of the other teams have beaten in the league this year. Swieqi United remain the only team to have gotten a win against the Greens throughout the season – in the Super Cup final.
The Stripes will also be heading into it with several players away on international duty as the reliance on U17 players comes into focus while these are competing in the UEFA Women’s U17 Qualifiers.
Probed about the reality of navigating a match tactically, considering thin numbers, Charlene Zammit kept a positive stance, “It’s definitely not an ideal situation which unfortunately affects our consistency during our tactical preparation. But at this stage, the focus is on adapting with the players available and making sure we stay competitive. The squad has shown good determination in these circumstances, and we want to keep that mindset, give our best, and approach the final games in a positive way.”
The Birkirkara veteran called on her team’s discipline once more in an attempt to come away with something against the Greens, “Against a team like Mgarr, it’s important that we stay compact, limit the space they can play in, and manage key moments well throughout the match. At the same time, we need to be more clinical with the chances we create. We’ve shown that we can compete at this level, so it’s about putting all these elements together consistently over the ninety minutes.”
Though Mgarr United are comfortably settled as champions, Ryan Vella showed no intention of removing his tactical lens from the opposition – underscoring the side’s keen intent on maintaining an unbeaten league campaign.
Questioned on his view of how his team needs to tactically adapt to halt Birkirkara’s good run of form he acknowledged the improved work ethic and discipline, “Birkirkara played slightly different than usual in the last two matches. They improved a lot tactically and are very disciplined without the ball, while at the same time being a threat when they win the ball. Charlene is doing a great job and you can see that in the recent results they had against Hibernians and Swieqi.”
He called on his side to double-down on their own strengths in search of fulfilling their own goals, “We need to be ready especially when losing the ball – to make the right transitions and not letting them hurt us on the counter attack. At the same time we need to be patient at finding the right moments to hurt them in certain areas.”
With form on their side, and clear targets ahead, it is a match that asks all the right questions of the two sides. Space will be ample as the two teams will take to the pitch at the Victor Tedesco Stadium at 20:30.
Lead Image: Lara Schembri
Stay up to date by following The Sporting Fan on social media: Instagram ~ Facebook ~ X
