BIRKIRKARA 0
HIBERNIANS 3
Hibernians ended their two-year trophy drought after beating champions Birkirkara 3-0 to win the BOV Women’s Super Cup at the Centenary Stadium, on Tuesday.
The Paolites have now extended their record of Super Cup titles to seven, their first since their 5-3 win over the Stripes in the 2016 edition.
Two goals in the late stages of the first half paved the way for Hibs’ victory which will go a long way towards boosting their morale ahead of the league campaign.
The two rivals will cross swords again in less than a month as they meet in the 2018/19 BOV Women’s League opener.
Birkirkara coach Melania Bajada deployed her team in a 4-1-4-1 shape with Tracy Teuma, who usually plays as a striker, tasked with the role of marshalling the backline. Up front, Ylenia Carabott, formerly of Hibernians, made her first domestic appearance for Birkirkara after featuring in the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
On the other hand, Hibernians, guided by Neil Zarb Cousin, had newly-signed Jade Schembri taking up a wide position in defence. The 20-year old Nicole Borg was the Paolites’ main reference point in attack.
The Stripes came close to forging ahead on 11 minutes when Stephania Farrugia headed the ball from a set-piece but her effort sailed over the bar.
On 20 minutes, Bajada brought on debutant Kailey Willis, who was on the books of Tarxien Rainbows last season, instead of Alishia Sultana.
Willis did not take long to threaten as, on the half-hour mark, she darted into the box but her close-range shot was inches wide.
However, it was Hibs who managed to unlock the score through an Ann-Marie Said own goal whose pass was misjudged by goalkeeper Janice Xuereb.
Birkirkara staged a reaction but their efforts failed to yield an equaliser. On the contrary, it was the Paolites who doubled their lead. Borg beat the offside trap before sending the ball towards the advancing Francesca Chircop who had the simplest of tasks rolling the ball into empty net.
Two goals down, the Stripes began the second half with all guns blazing and almost pulled one back on but Teuma’s free-kick came off the woodwork.
Hibs did not sit back, creating a glorious chance to seal their win but Chircop’s effort from the edge of the area was blocked by Xuereb.
Late in the game, Hibs coach Zarb Cousin handed a debut to full-back Chloe Ann Ellul in an attempt to strengthen his defensive line
Eight minutes from time, the Paolites again came close to scoring. Another well-constructed counter-attack ended with Emma Xuereb blasting a long-range shot against the woodwork.
Xuereb was not to be denied through as she put her name on the scoresheet in the closing stages. After beating the offside trap, she rounded Xuereb before slotting the ball into empty net.
BIRKIRKARA
J. Xuereb; A. Said, K. Parnis, S. Farrugia, S. Zarb (70 R. Bajada), T. Teuma, A. Sultana (20 K. Willis), R. Giusti (86 M. Sciberras), V. Mifsud (46 J. Sakic), Y. Vella, Y. Carabott.
HIBERNIANS
D. Grech; J. Schembri (77 C. Ellul), D. Theuma, J. Flask, E. Xuereb, M. Debono (90 J. Dimech), S. Zammit, C. Zammit, F. Chircop (88 L. Cefai), N. Borg (56 R. Steer-Chetham), C. Grech.
Referee: Alex Johnson.
Jade Flask (right) of Hibernians attempts a pass despite marked by Birkirkara's Stephania Farrugia. Photo: Joe Borg/MFA