Birkirkara floor Hibs to secure 17th Cup success
A goal in each half inspired Birkirkara to victory over Hibernians and lift this year’s women’s KnockOut for a record 17th time.
Valentina Rapa opened the score for the Stripes before Sara Saliba doubled the lead in the second half as the Stripes complete the domestic treble, having won both league and Super Cup already.
As expected, Hibernians started with veteran goalkeeper Sharon Costantino between the sticks instead of Maya Muscat while young defender Amber Galea also missed out.
Yolande Attard, who sat out from last week’s semi-final against Swieqi United, was given the nod with Nicole Sciberras wearing the captain’s armband instead of the injured Martina Borg.
On the other hand, Birkirkara fielded another former Malta goalkeeper in Tonina Dimech as their number
Rapa 13; Saliba 75
HIBERNIANS
S. Costantino; N. Geren, C. Ellul, A. Busuttil, K. Chetcuti, S. Urpani (57 A. Galea), Y. Attard (57 N. Celeste) (69 R. Zerafa), K. Norkus, L. Ayres, N. Sciberras, A. Espitia.
BIRKIRKARA
T. Dimech; A. Said, S. Farrugia, A. Sultana (90 S. Francalanza), V. Mifsud (78 E. Garcia), C. Zammit, M. Grosso, A. Del Moral (78 G. Zahra), C. Rogers, V. Rapa, S. Saliba (90 A. Vassallo).
Referee: Jo-Anna Vassallo.
Yellow cards: Sciberras, Farrugia, Espitia.
one selection Janice Xuereb is recovering from an ACL injury.
Arianna Del Moral, scorer of a brace in their Super Cup triumph in December against Swieqi United, was deployed from the start.
Marta Grosso almost put the Stripes ahead after just four minutes only to see her header finish inches after Sharon Constantino failed to block her effort.
Moments later, Costantino was forced into action with a brilliant save to deny Veronique Mifsud who let fly a strike from the edge of the area.
The Stripes made their pressure count when Rapa connected with an Ann-Marie Said’s freekick and beat Costantino.
Mifsud tried her luck again, but for the second time she could not beat Costantino as her long-range effort sailed over the bar.
Costantino blocked a Sara Saliba header from close-range as Birkirkara were looking to double their lead in the first-half.
Ann-Marie Said tried to surprise the Hibernians’ goalkeeper with a left-footed strike from long distance but could not find the target.
Sara Saliba missed a flurry of quickfire chances as Birkirkara continue to press for a second.
First, Saliba’s header from a corner-kick was blocked by Costantino before ricocheting on the crossbar and roll out.
Moments later, Costantino produced a fantastic save to deny Saliba from outside the area before the latter saw her close-range strike blocked by the Hibs goalkeeper again.
After change of ends, Hibs made two changes with Nyorah Celeste and Amber Galea coming on.
However, Celeste’s game lasted just seven minutes after picking up an apparent serious injury, making way for Rodianne Zerafa who was making her season debut after coming back from a long-term absence due to an ACL injury herself.
Birkirkara finally assured themselves of victory on 75 minutes.
It was a huge relief for Saliba who finally managed to find a way past Costantino, capitalising on a back-heel assist by Arianna Del Moral to seal Birkirkara’s victory.
NATIONAL STADIUM: BOV Premier League 2pm Naxxar Lions vs Valletta; 4.15pm Birkirkara vs Sirens.
TONY BEZZINA STADIUM: BOV Premier League 2pm Balzan vs Mosta; 4.15pm Santa Lucia vs Gżira United.
CENTENARY STADIUM: BOV Challenge League 11am Senglea Athletic vs Żabbar St Patrick; 5pm Żebbuġ Rangers vs Żejtun Corinthians.
SIRENS STADIUM: BOV Challenge League 5pm St Andrews vs Lija Athletic. TEDESCO STADIUM: BOV Challenge League 5pm Tarxien Rainbows vs Luqa St Andrews.
GOZO STADIUM: BOV GFA Cup final 4pm Nadur Youngsters vs Qala Saints.
TA’ QALI: BOV Men’s League 12.30pm Luxol vs Starlites JSD; 2.30pm Mellieħa Libertas Spalding vs SIGMA Depiro; 4.30pm Hibernians vs Valletta Fighters. MARSA: 21st meeting of the season. First race to start 1.30pm.
COTTONERA SC: U-15 League 9am Swieqi Phoenix Young Stars vs BKVC Dynamites; Paola Maypole vs Flyers; 11am Depiro vs Swieqi Phoenix Volley Maniacs; Swieqi Phoenix Ninjas vs BKVC Blazers. U-17 League 1pm Paola Maypole vs BKVC Thunder Spikes. Superleague 3pm Birkirkara VC vs Flyers; 5pm Paola Executive Security vs Falcons.
Challenge League: Melita vs Pieta Hotspurs. Assikura Women’s KO Final Birkirkara vs Hibernians 2-0. MSV Life Women’s League Depiro vs Starlites JSD 6559; Fusion Quest vs Hibernians 43-62. WINTER LEAGUE: Neptunes VideoSlots vs Sirens 7-10; San Ġiljan JP Projects vs Valletta IZIBET 21-6; Ta’ Xbiex Amigos vs Otters Nivea 14-7.
Hasni.
Ħamrun Spartans gave a real statement that they are the team to beat in Maltese football when they demolished title rivals Floriana 5-0 to secure the Premier League title for a second successive season.
Ghana forward Seth Paintsil was the architect behind Ħamrun Spartans’ victory after scoring no less than four goals to lead his team to an emphatic victory that earned his team their tenth league title success.
A lot has been said about the Spartans’ struggles in recent weeks, but yesterday, Luciano Zauri’s men were at their absolute best as they completely tore apart a Floriana side who were never in the match and their hopes of silverware now rest fully on the FA Trophy where they have reached the semi-finals.
At the final whistle, the Spartans kicked off their title party in front of their numerous fans who completely filled every spot of the Millennium Stand before heading to the main streets of their locality to continue their celebrations
Ħamrun Spartans coach Luciano Zauri brought back in the starting formation Brazilian defender Emerson Marcelina and Croatian midfielder Roko Prsa after they missed out on the 4-1 win over Sta Lucia due to suspension.
On the other hand, Federico Marchetti retained his place in goal despite the return to the squad of Henry Bonello. Forward Uros Duranovic had to settle for a place on the bench as Zauri kept faith with the three-pronged attack of Jonny, Paintsil and Luke Montebello.
Floriana coach Mauro Camoranesi made several changes to his starting formation as he went for the three points.
Serbian goalkeeper Nemanja Andrijanic started in goal in the absence of Georgi Kitanov.
Ivory Coast defender Guy Yameogo comes in at the heart of the defence while Carlo Zammit Lonardelli will start on the right flank.
Greek forward Christos Rovas formed part of a threepronged attack alongside Kemar Reid and Willis Furtado.
After a tense start to the match, it was the Spartans who settled nicely and took just seven minutes to establish their lead.
Ryan Camenzuli sent a cross into the path of Seth Paintsil who headed the ball past Andrejanic.
Floriana looked rattled and two minutes later Steve Borg connected to a Prsa corner kick but headed wide.
Then it was Paintsil who could have grabbed his second on the match when he was played in space inside the Floriana
Micallef 54; Muscat 90 pen.
HIBERNIANS
H. Sacco, Z. Grech (70 I. Chukunyere), K. Shaw, F. Apap, G. Artiles (80 A. Radchenko), C. Bonanni, G. Bastianos (70 S. Okoh), R. Antwi (70 S. Zuzul), J. Degabriele (80 A. Attard), A. Bruno. MARSAXLOKK
M. Calleja Cremona, L. Aguirre, N. Raden, Weder, K. Micallef, N. Muscat, R. Scicluna, Fernandinho (85 S. Boakye), D. Bonnici, Y. Messias (90 J. Walker), A. Obonogwu (75 N. Portelli).
Referee: Glen Tonna.
Yellow cards: Artiles, Bonanni.
area but was denied by the onrushing Greens goalkeeper.
Paintsil put his name on the scoresheet again on 18 minutes when Jonny released Montebello on the right. The Malta striker’s shot was pushed away by Andrejanic but Paintsil was on hand to fire home.
Camoranesi was not happy and on 33 minutes he withdrew Owen Spiteri and roped in Brazilian forward Matheus as he switched to a three-man defence and added more firepower upfront.
Floriana came close to pulling a goal back on 42 minutes when
Gomes 13 pen; Awad 14 Minala 18; Plut 45 Arthur 52, Acheampong 56
GUDJA UNITED
J. Spiteri, L. Gatt (80 E. Gentile) , Z. Grech, R. Nanitelamio, J. Cutajar (64 G. Lorenzoni) , J. Quintero, S. Attard (84 I. Salis), G. Ime, M. Conti, A. Friggieri, G. Zammit (80 S. Nwafor).
SLIEMA WANDERERS
R. Al-Tumi, G. Alcino, J. Borg (76 M. D’Alessandro), D. Kouao (69 L. Micallef), M. Beerman, J. Minala (60 J. Engerer), J. Arthur, G. Acheampong, M. Awad (60 E. Agius), V. Plut (69 N. Strickland), S. Gomes.
Referee: Darryl Agius.
Rovas latched onto a cross at the far post but was denied by Ħamrun goalkeeper Federico Marchetti before the Reds cleared the danger.
Ħamrun added a fourth goal just before the half-time interval when from a Prsa corner kick, the ball fell to Joseph Mbong who hit a low shot that was blocked by the Floriana defence. However, Elionay was quick to react and fire the ball home.
Four goals to the good, the game was as good as over with Ħamrun easily administering their lead for much of the second half.
But Paintsil was still proving a threat and bagged his fourth on the day when Jonny played him in space and the Ghana forward turned around the Floriana goalkeeper and deposited the ball into an empty net.
Luke Montebello came close to putting his name on the scoresheet when he avoided his marker and hit a low drive that was pushed away by Andrijanic.
But that little mattered as the Spartans were long home and dry when referee Petrovic blew the final whistle to kickstart their title celebrations.