Sta Lucia strike late to overcome Sirens

SIRENS                             0

SANTA LUCIA                 2

Magri Overend 85; Ante Rosero 90

SIRENS

M. Montfort-6, R. Grech (82 R. Scicluna), Raphael-6.5, M. Maia-6, W. Domoraud-6.5, J. Walker (61 L. Grech), A. Borg-6.5, S. Tounkara-6, T. Agius-6, A. Bustos-6 (68 R. Menezes), T. Espindola-6.

SANTA LUCIA

C. Farrugia-6, T. Tabone Desira-6, A. Prates-6, K. Correira-6, A. Magri Overend-6, L. Motta-6 (89 L. Mckay), A. Da Silva-7 (90 G. De Araujo), K. Rosero-6.5 (90 B. Agius), V. Filho-6, J. Vella Critien-6 (71 M. Camilleri), K. Xuereb-6.

Referee: Slobodan Petrovic

Yellow cards: R. Grech, M. Camilleri.

BOV Player of the Match: Sergio Raphael (Sirens).

Santa Lucia left it till late to score twice and bounce back from last weekend’s defeat to Hibernians as they beat Sirens 2-0.

Ironically, Sirens had the lion’s share of ball possession but the Santa Lucia goalkeeper was rarely tested. Santa Lucia, on other hand, opted for a more cautious approach, operating on counter attacks.

Undoubtedly the St Paul’s Bay side were disappointed to leave the Centenary Stadium empty-handed as they eyed another positive result following back-to-back wins over Hibernians and Gżira in their previous two matches.

However they failed to make their superiority count during the first half and were punished late in the game.

Alan da Silva Souza was in excellent form for Santa Lucia along with Kevin Ante Rosero who was back after missing the loss to Hibernians.

Sirens held the initiative during the first half and on five minutes, Maxuell Maia hit just wide off a cross by Wilfried Domoraud from the left.

Five minutes later, a Terence Agius effort from the edge of the area was deflected into a corner by a defender. A cross shot by Samba Tounkara was parried by Farrugia on the 15th minute.

Tounkara then served Agius whose effort ended over the bar eight minutes from half-time.

Five minutes in the second half, Domoraud concluded a good run on the left with a cross shot which was palmed out by goalkeeper Christopher Farrugia,  Tounkara took the rebound and crossed for Domoraud whose header was once again parried by Farrugia.

Santa Lucia started to gain more confidence and seven minutes from time, Ante Rosero pounced on a back pass for the goalkeeper, advanced on the right, beating a defender on the run but his conclusion was partially saved by Montfort with Adrian Borg clearing the ball into safety.

Two minutes later, Santa Lucia took the lead. Da Silva Souza took a loose ball and served Adam Magri Overend who advanced on the left and exchanged the ball with Ante Rosero before slotting past Montfort.

Sirens threw caution to the wind as they went all out in search of the equaliser but four minutes in added time, Da Silva Souza led a counter-attack for Santa Lucia, serving Kieran Xuereb who released Ante Rosero on the left and the Colombian placed the ball into the back of the net.