Ten Player Birkirkara Resist Mgarr Threat To Edge Closer To Twelfth Title

Birkirkara secured a 1-0 victory over Mgarr United, restoring a five point lead at the top with two games left. Marta Grosso scored the all important goal early in the match. Intents on extending the lead were scrapped as the side went down to ten with a straight red in the opening stages of the second half. However, the Stripes held on to the slender lead.

Team Selections

Janice Xuereb continued to occupy the space between the posts for Birkirkara. There was one change in defence, with Nanako Kobayashi starting in the right-back position, accompanying captain Stephania Farrugia, Charlene Zammit and Ann-Marie Said in defence. Caitlin Rogers returned from injury in the holding midfield position, alongside Gabriella Zahra. Marta Grosso and Arianna Del Moral occupied the wings, while Sara Saliba partnered Francesca Chircop in attack.

Meanwhile, Patricia Ebejer remained in goal for Mgarr United, behind and unchanged defence in Abigail Camilleri, Leanne Cefai, Rebecca Bajada and Anastasia Sivolobova. Luana Cabral and Joelma Alves Gabriel both returned from injury, with the Brazilian duo accompanying Brenda Borg in midfield. Yulya Carella and Shakira Camilleri provided the width to Fernanda Peinado in attack.

Birkirkara Nudge Into The Lead

The game kicked off to a few surges at either end, but neither side were able to create clear cut opportunities in the opening stages. Mgarr United won themselves a free-kick in midfield, which led to their first opportunity as Joelma Alves Gabriel pinged in a second cross towards Fernando Peinado. The Brazilian rose well but headed wide.

Instead Birkirkara responded through Sara Saliba who drifted onto the right wing, before placing a low cross into the box. There was no interception from the Greens’ defence, allowing the ball to run to Marta Grosso. Birkirkara’s top scorer placed a right boot to send the ball across into the far side for the only goal of the match in the 11th minute.

The Stripes attempted to double their lead through a corner six minutes later. This time Marta Grosso delivered onto the head of Stephania Farrugia, but the skipper headed wide of the mark. Grosso was still hard at work in search of earning the Stripes the comfort of a two-goal lead, firing a shot from the edge of the box on the half-hour mark that veered wide.

Birkirkara kept up the attacks, with Ann-Marie Said whipping in a good delivery from a free-kick shortly after, but no one managed to get a touch. A few minutes later Francesca Chircop also delivered a low cross into the box, but Abigail Camilleri was first to the ball.

Half-Time Score: Birkirkara 1 – 0 Mgarr United

Birkirkara Down To Ten

The Stripes took to the pitch with a more clear intent in going forward and looked set to have found their second four minutes into the half as Gabriella Zahra ran free of the defence. Birkirkara’s number two dribbled past the goalkeeper but took herself wide. Despite trying to place the ball into the net, Leanne Cefai recovered well to clear the ball. Caitlin Rogers kept it alive by rotating to Marta Grosso, but the Italian’s effort was held by Patricia Ebejer.

The match took a major turn as Charlene Zammit was brandished a straight red card in the 54th minute, deemed to have fouled Fernanda Peinado just on the edge of the penalty box as the Brazilian attempted to run free of the defence. The wall set up deflected Joelma Alves Gabriel’s free-kick to a corner, which Ann-Marie Said headed away to safety.

Jose’ Borg shifted Nanako Kobayashi in partnership with Stephania Farrugia at the back, while Caitlin Rogers filled in at right back. This until Ileana Farrugia came on close to the hour mark, with Francesca Chircop sacrificed from attack.

Birkirkara were still continuing with the mentality of attack as the best form of defence, while Mgarr United were keen to try to expose the space with quick breaks. Sara Saliba was keen on being a nuisance for the Greens. She latched onto a blocked ball but fired wide, while keen on making a run behind the Greens’ defence only to find Rebecca Bajada who scurried across to marshal the threat to a corner. Marta Grosso found Ann-Marie Said at the near post, but she fired wide of the mark.

The Greens started to string more possession as the seventy minute mark expired. Brenda Borg was keen to ping balls into the forwards, with Fernanda Peinado and Yulya Carella being willing runners. However, a cross from Peinado was gobbled up by Janice Xuereb, while Stephania Farrugia was effective in dealing with most of the rest of the deliveries.

Mgarr United made their only change in attack in the 76th minute, bringing on Kayah Abela Sciberras instead of Shakira Camilleri, before Mariah Cardona replaced Sara Saliba for the Stripes.

The Greens’ best opportunity arrived in the 82nd minute from a free-kick. Luana Cabral delivered from the right side of the pitch toward Yulya Carella, who made the run at the near post. Mgarr United’s number eleven caught it sweetly but Janice Xuereb made the important stop to keep her team in front. Abigail Camilleri delivered the resulting corner onto the head of Luana Cabral, but the Brazilian could not find the target.

Supporters from both teams urged their sides on, with several nails firmly disappearing along the way. Although Birkirkara were still trying to make sporadic runs forward, the team adopted an anywhere will do approach as the match drew to a close, in search of holding on to a crucial three points. Mgarr United sought to try to create more from set-piece opportunities, but could not fashion a real chance late on, enabling the Stripes to see out the match despite the number disadvantage.

Final Score: Birkirkara 1 – 0 Mgarr United

Standings & Next Matches

Birkirkara restore a five-point lead over Swieqi United at the top, taking another crucial step towards their twelfth title. The top two will face each other in the next match on Thursday 14th at the Centenary Stadium (20:15).

The Greens will seek to bounce back with their first victory over Hibernians, who will also be seeking a return to winning ways following Thursday’s defeat to Swieqi United. They meet on Saturday 16th at Mgarr Ground (16:30).

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