Spirited Birkirkara women wrap up Champions League commitment

A heart-breaking defeat in extra-time at the hands of Slovakia champions Slovan Bratislava denied Birkirkara the chance to finish third in their Group 2 qualifier of the 2021/2022 UEFA Women’s Champions League. After falling to a 3-0 defeat against 14-time Scottish champions Glasgow City in the opening game, Melania Bajada-led Stripes had to contest the third place in the group against the Slovak representatives. Bratislava scored three minutes after the start of the extra 30 minutes and managed to keep Birkirkara at bay to secure the win.It was a spirited performance by the Stripes, though, who were the better side in the first half.  Birkirkara managed to create a number of goal-scoring opportunities that could have turned the tides of this game in their favour. Bratislava, champions of the Slovak women’s league, increased their intensity in the second half with second-half entry Pavlina Hdricklova handing her side the victory. Nonetheless, there are a lot of positives to be taken from this experience especially by the youth players. Youth duo Valentina Rapa and Martina Fenech were handed their Women’s Champions League debuts as they featured in the opening game.Meanwhile, coach Bajada has now 12 appearances in this competition as a coach whereas new signing Charlene Zammit, who was making her official Stripes debut, played her 10th European game against Glasgow. FORMATIONS: Glasgow City 3-0 BirkirkaraGlasgow CityL. Alexander; C. Walsh, J. Love (46 N. Farrelly), M. Fulton, V. Kats (72 M. Foley), C. Shine (77 T. Fisher), J. Clark, L. Davidson (61 M. Bates), A. Filipa (77 N. Noble), J. Molin, P. Chincilla. BirkirkaraJ. Xuereb; G. Zahra, A. Said, S. Farrugia, T. Teuma (85 R. Steer Chetham), A. Sultana, R. Giusti (79 M. Cardona), F. Fartaria (46 V. Mifsud), Y. Bajada (85 M. Fenech), C. Zammit, M. Felice (46 V. Rapa).  Slovan Bratislava 1-0 Birkirkara Slovan BratislavaM. Geletova; T. Mrockova, M. Bytcankova, S. Cernakova, B. Vargova, V. Hankova, V. Ceriova, M. Svecova, S. Skerdova, S. Semanova (80 P. Hrdlickova), K. Tipulova. BirkirkaraJ. Xuereb; V. Rapa (68 M. Fenech), S. Farrugia, C. Zammit, Y. Bajada, G. Zahra, A. Said, R. Giusti (85 F. Fartaria), T. Teuma. A. Sultana, V. Mifsud (85 M. Cardona).