Birkirkara suffered a second defeat in Group 6 of the Qualifying round of the UEFA Women’s Champions League as they lost 1-6 to Olimpia Cluj of Romania at the FC Metalist Training Ground n.2 in Vysokiy, Ukraine on Friday.

Mara Bâtea put Cluj ahead on the 17th minute but the Stripes managed to equalise four minutes later thanks to Kim Parnis. The Romanians had captain Ioana Bortan sent off on the half-hour and three minutes later, they had a penalty after Ann-Marie Said fouled Cristina Carp inside the area but Andreea Voicu’s effort from the penalty spot was neutralised by Janice Xuereb.

However in added time before the end of the first half, Cluj regained the lead through Phoenetia Browne. Cristina Carp made it 3-1 on the 61st minute and Mihaela Ciolacu added another on the 72nd. Five minutes later, Andreea Voicu scored the fifth goal with Carp sealing the issue with a sixth goal two minutes in added time.

The third and final match is against Cardiff Met of Wales on Monday.

OLIMPIA CLUJ Selena Delia Babb, Cassidy Benintente, Ioana Bortan, Teodora Meluta, Mihaela Ciolacu (88′ Adelina Rusu), Andreea Voicu, Mara Batea, Raluca Borodi (46′ Maria Neacsu), Cristina Carp, Oana Negrea (81′ Adela Iosif), Phoenetia Browne.

B’KARA Janice Xuereb, Gabriella Zahra, Ann-Marie Said, Kim Parnis, Stefania Farrugia, Tracy Teuma (79′ Kelly Pace), Alishia Sultana (70′ Samantha Zarb), Raina Giusti, Yasmeen Vella, Ylenia Carabott, Jelena Sakic (61′ Mariah Sciberras).

Referee: María Dolores Martinez Madrona (ESP)
Assistant referees: Silvia Fernandez Perez (ESP), Iryna Petrova (UKR)
Fourth official: Liudmyla Telbukh (UKR)