Sirens 3
S. Lucia 1
Sirens: D. Cassar, R. Grech, W. De Oliveira, R. Dos Anjos, E. Okoye, R. Memezes, A. Borg, I. Adeshina (L. Sciberras 90), F. Cheveresan, R. Romau, T. Espindola
Santa Lucia: R. Marmara, G. Bohrer, D. Mendoza, J. Magri Overend, D. Segura, R. Ante, J. Walker, F. Zuniga, J. Zerafa (O. Elouni 64), C. Escobar, R. Tachikawa (D. Agius 82)
Referee: A. Johnson
Asst refs: P. Apap, I. Galea
4th official: A M Sant
Scorers: I. Adeshina 10, 50, D. Segura 30, W. De Oliveira 78
Yellow cards: R. Grech 35, J. Walker 65,
BOV Player of the Match: I. Adeshina
TMI Top 3: I. Adeshina, 2. W. De Oliveira, 3. G. Bohrer.
Attendance: 688
Sirens were back on the winning track yesterday as they beat fellow Premier League newcomers Santa Lucia 3-1.
Man of the Match Ige Adeshina was their hero, as he scored a brace, while Wellington De Oliveira scored the third goal. Diego Segura had scored a temporary equaliser for the Saints in the first half.
This was the St Paul's Bay side's third victory as they were quick to recover from the disastrous 4-0 defeat at the hands of Hamrun in their previous encounter. They now have 10 points, one fewer than Floriana and Hamrun who are on 11.
It was also the first defeat for Santa Lucia who remain on eight points.
The first half was more or less balanced with Sirens opening strongly. They even managed to take the lead on 10 minutes, but from then on they reduced their rhythm and the Saints could react, also obtaining an equaliser.
The St Paul's Bay side showed much better form and commitment than they did in their last encounter which they lost heavily 4-0 against Hamrun Spartans.
Santa Lucia disappointed their followers in the opening stages, but their reaction was strong enough to get them back on level terms.
In the second half, Sirens were undoubtedly the better team and richly deserved their victory as they created much more scoring chances than their opponents who failed to find their way past a well organised Sirens defence.
The Saints will have to forget yesterday's dull performance quickly if they are to return to their early season form.
Sirens started like a house on fire and after seven minutes, they went close to a goal. A Romeo Romau freekick was deviated goalwards by Santa Lucia's Jacob Walker but as the ball appeared destined for the back of the net, goalie Ryan Caruana just managed to tip the ball over the bar for a corner.
The St Paul's Bay side was not to be denied. In the 10th minute, from a Thiago Espindola cornerkick, it was Adeshina Abdullahi who headed home past goalie Cassar.
In the 19th minute, De Oliveira tried his luck from an angle outside the area, but his cross-shot finished over.
Sta Lucia obtained an equaliser in the 30th minute when Diego Segura received a good ball from Jamie Zerafa and beat goalie David Cassar with a low shot.
In the 37th minute, a melee in front of the Sta Lucia goal ended with a shot from Flavio Cheveresan which finished well over the bar.
In the 44th minute, Santa Lucia had a freekick by Gabriel Bohrer going wide of the Sirens post.
Six minutes into the second period, Sirens once again took the lead when from a Memezes corner kick, Cheveresan headed down the ball for I. Adeshina to hit home a low shot.
In the 63rd minute, Romario Memezes was thwarted by goalie Caruana who dived sideways to save on deck.
Three minutes later, Adeshina set Dos Anjos in the Saints area, but the latter's shot was turned to corner by goalie Caruana.
The Saints goalie again came to his side's rescue on 74 minutes when he turned to corner a low shot by De Oliveira.
But he could do nothing to stop the latter from scoring his side's third in the 78th minute. It was Romau who set De Oliveira who scored with a good rising shot.
On 81 minutes, Adeshina saw his effort hitting the side netting and five minutes later, it was Memezes who was denied by goalie Caruana who blocked his incursion.
In another swift counter attack in added time, Memezes set De Oliveira on the right flank, but the onrushing Caruana managed to block his effort.