Birkirkara opened their UEFA Women’s Champions League commitments with a 8-0 defeat at the hands WFC-Kharkiv, who are hosting the mini-tournament.

The Ukrainian representatives forged ahead after six minutes when Yuliia Shevchuk hit a shot from the edge of the area which deceived Stripes’ goalkeeper Janice Xuereb.

Three minutes later, Daryna Apanaschenko, unmarked inside the penalty area, flicked the ball into the net following a corner.

Kharkiv found a third when Nadiia Kunina beat the offside trap and headed the ball over Xuereb, on minute 26.

The hosts continued to force Birkirkara to defend and eventually they found a fourth, on 36 minutes, through Ganna Voronina whose thumping volley from the edge of the area gave Xuereb no time to parry.

On the brink of half-time, Kharkiv made it 5-0 as Voronina anticipated Xuereb to head home her second goal of the game.

After the change of ends, Kunina joined Voronina in registering a personal brace when after receiving an inviting cross from the left-hand side, she headed the ball into an empty net.

15 minutes from time, Kharkiv extended their lead when Ganna Mozolska slotted the ball past Xuereb in a one on one situation.

Anna Petryk sealed the result as she scored the 8-0 goal, five minutes from time.

Birkirkara will return in action on Friday, when they face Olimpia Cluj of Romania who earlier on Tuesday defeated Wales’ Cardiff Met 3-2.