Kolev goal hands Sirens crucial win over Pieta Hotspurs

PIETÀ HOTSPURS         0

SIRENS              1

Kolev 57

PIETÀ HOTSPURS

S. Alampasu-6, S. Okoh-6, C. Bangura-5.5, O. Temitope-5, D. Zerafa-6, P. Lapira-5 (61 K. Leonardi), A. Schembri Wismayer-5.5 (83 L. Amadu), Y. Morita-6 (70 S. Camara), Z. Leonardi-6, A. Ogungbe-5, T. Yamaguchi-6.

SIRENS

M. Grech-8, G. Camilleri-6, Weder-6, M. Pereira Muniz-6, K. Sano-6 (88 S. Arab), J. Walker, A. Vaikanah-6, A. Cini-6.5, P. Bento-6 (78 D. Jackson), I. Kolev-7 (90 D. Promise), S. Sessegnon-6 (88 A. Borg).

Referee Philip Farrugia.

Yellow cards Lapira, Cini, Zerafa, Z. Leonardi, Bento, Sessegnon, Schembri Wismayer.

BOV Player of the match: Matthew Grech (Sirens).

Sirens FC continued to distance themselves from the relegation place when they scored a crucial 1-0 victory over Pietà Hotspurs at the Tony Bezzina Stadium.

Bulgarian striker Ivan Kolev turned out to be Sirens’ hero as his second-half goal earned his team a crucial victory that lifted the team to ninth place in the Premier League standings on 15 points, level with Valletta who face Marsaxlokk today.

On the other hand, the Hotspurs remained rooted to the bottom of the standings with only four points to show.

The match turned out to be a drab affair, particularly in the first half where scoring chances were few and far between.

The Hotspurs started brightly and could have taken the lead after six minutes when Takuma Yamaguchi saw his effort well saved by Sirens goalkeeper Matthew Grech.

Sirens failed to respond as there was little entertainment for the few fans that braved the poor weather conditions at the Tony Bezzina Stadium.

The Hotspurs came close again on 34 minutes with another long-range shot from Yuto Morita that just missed the upright.

After the break, Pietà continued to show the brighter ideas with Alan Schembri Wismayer trying his luck but Grech was again alert in Sirens’ goal.

Eight minutes into the second half, Grech was again prominent for Sirens when he did well to keep out an effort by Yamaguchi.

But it was Sirens who struck the hammer blow against the run of play when Kolev was first to react from a free-kick action to direct a firm header past Pietà goalkeeper Sunday Alampasu.

The goal hit hard the Hotspurs who tried to launch a fightback in the remaining minutes but Sirens did well to administer their one-goal advantage to clinch a crucial win.