Sirens 1
Senglea 1
Sirens: D. Cassar, R. Grech, W. De Oliveira, F. Cheveresan, E. Okoye, E. Arab Siraj (T. Espindola 76), AM Bustos, A. Borg, A. Abdullahi, R. Dos Anjos, R. Romau
Senglea: M. Farrugia, K. Pulo (L. Grech 58), S. Olberkis, E. Sakyi, M. Micallef (W. Zamble 75), T. Marukawa, JW Teixeira, S. Cipriott (J. Tanti 46), M. Todorovic, D. Xuereb, M. Dias
Referee: P. Farrugia
Asst. Refs: J. Spiteri, T. Zammit
4th official: A. Johnson
Scorers: E. Okoye 40, Teixeira 80
Yellow cards: E. Okoye 25, A. Abdullahi 38, D. Xuereb 60, A. Borg 89
TMI Top 3: 1. D. Cassar, 2. R. Dos Anjos, 3. T. Marukawa
BOV Player of the match: R. Dos Anjos (Sirens)
Premier League debutants Sirens started the season among the elite on a positive note earning a good point from a 1-1 draw against Senglea in their opening game yesterday evening.
It was a very encouraging point in the relegation battle they are expected to face throughout the season.
For Senglea, it was also a positive result, but it was evident they were disappointed. In fact, there seemed to be no comparison to the side which finished the past season so well.
The Athletic, now under the charge of former Qormi mentor Mario Muscat, were a somewhat changed side from the one which did so well last season, especially from January onwards.
On the other hand, Sirens were making their debut in the Premier League and coach Steve D'Amato had a tough job to assemble a competitive squad in the hope of avoiding relegation. At the end, he must have been satisfied with the performance of his boys.
In the first half, Senglea were dominant in the opening 30 minutes and created some good chances which they failed to convert into goals.
For this they paid dearly as Sirens improved considerably in the final stages and even managed to take the lead through a beautiful goal from Emmanuel Okoye.
In the second half, Senglea pressed for an equaliser, but they never threatened Sirens goalie Cassar seriously before they earned a penalty which they missed on 74 minutes.
After that they managed to score their equaliser although they were somewhat lucky as a harmless looking shot was deviated into his own net by Sirens defender Adrian Borg.
Had substitute Zamble scored just before the final whistle, it would have been sheer injustice to Sirens.
Senglea were the first to attack and on 3 minutes, a Dias cross was just missed by Marukawa in front of goal.
Senglea then went close twice. In the 12th minute, a low shot by Marukawa was saved on deck by Cassar and moments later, from a Dias cross, a Teixeira header just missed the left upright.
Senglea insisted and in the 19th minute, it was Sirens goalie Cassar who effected a very good interception on a dangerous low cross by Teixeira.
Sirens' first attempt arrive in the 32nd minute when following an Okoye cross, a shot by Adrian Borg was blocked by a Senglea defender.
The St Paul's Bay side took the lead in the 40th minute through Emmanuel Okoye who whose beautiful swerving shot completely beat goalie Farrugia in the Senglea goal.
Senglea threatened to equalise in added time, but Elvis Sakyi had a shot saved by the diving Cassar.
Sirens almost added a second soon after the change of ends. It was De Oliveira who busted his way into the Senglea area on the right to cross low for Cheveresan whose flick from close in was saved on the line by the diving Farrugia.
In the 52nd minute, A. Abdullahi had a shot going over the bar.
Senglea missed a great chance to equalise on the 74th minute when Jan Tanti was floored by Ryan Grech. From the resultant spotkick, Cassar covered himself in glory as he dived the right way to save Teixeira's shot.
The same Teixeira made amends a few minutes later when he received the ball on the edge of the Sirens area and his shot hit Adrian Borg with the ball finishing in the net and goalie Cassar going the wrong way.
In added time, Senglea missed another great opportunity to snatch the three points when substitute Zamble advanced unhindered into the Sirens area, but his central shot was saved by Cassar.