GLASGOW CITY 3
Shine 3
Chincilla 15
Klats 43
BIRKIRKARA 0
Glasgow City
L. 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.
Birkirkara
J. 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).
Referee Ifeoma Kulmala (Finland FA).
Yellow cards Zahra.
Birkirkara will be playing for the third place match on Saturday after their 3-0 defeat at the hands of Glasgow City in Group 2 of their UEFA Women’s Champions League qualifying round.
The Stripes faced the Scottish side in a semi-final to determine one of the finalists that contest a place into the second qualifying round of the competition, this Saturday.
The winner of the other group game between BIIK of Kazakhstan and Slovakia’s Slovan Bratislava will face Glasgow whereas Birkirkara will face the loser.
As expected, the Scottish dominated proceedings and two early goals put them in the driving seat to claim the spoils in this match.
However, the Maltese side did stage a brave performance against a team that is at the back of their 14th straight Scottish title and was in the quarter-finals of the competition a couple of seasons ago.
Birkirkara coach Melania Bajada deployed newcomers Charlene Zammit – at the heart of the defense – and forward Flavia Fartaria from the start.
Glasgow City had the first chance of the game when Priscila Chincilla failed to capitalise on a right-hand side from close-range inside the first minute.
Nonetheless, the Scottish side managed to forge ahead on the third minute when forward Clare Shine let fly a long-range effort that stunned the Birkirkara goalkeeper.
Moments later, Prischilla had another effort on goal just to see the ball sail over the bar.
Glasgow were looking to double their lead and Vital Klats squandered a glorious chance when she headed the ball straight into Janice Xuereb from inside the penalty area.
The Scottish champions did find a second on the 15th minute mark when Chincilla slotted a curling effort past Xuereb.
Lauren Davidson and Chincilla missed a flurry of quick chances in the space of a few minutes as Glasgow were still looking to extend their lead.
On the half-hour mark, Portuguese player Agata Filipa came close to struck a third but failed to hit the target from a one on one situation with Birkirkara’s goalkeeper.
On the brink of half-time, Klats found a third after slotting the ball past Xuereb from inside the eighteen-yard box.
A couple of changes for Birkirkara at the restart as coach Bajada replaced Fartaria with Veronique Mifsud whereas Michela Felice was subbed off for Valentina Rapa, who was making her first European appearance.
The second 45 minutes saw a better Birkirkara, who had good spells as well while denying Glasgow any clear-cut opportunities to extend their lead.
Twenty minutes from time, Shine tried her luck from a free-kick just to see Xuereb deny her.
Substitute Megan Foley hit the woodwork before Chincilla sent the rebound over the bar as the Scottish side remained on the front foot.
In the closing stages of the game, youth Martina Fenech was handed a debut in this competition as she replaced Yasmeen Bajada.
Birkirkara registered the final chance of the game through an Ann-Marie Said free kick that was cleared away by Glasgow.
