Valletta thought that they had won it when six minutes from the end of the match they took the lead through defender Jonathan Caruana who had just come on the pitch. At that time the Citizens were playing with nine man after the dismissal of Jovanovic and Sala.

But Sirens saved the match at the death when six minutes into stoppage time Wilfred Domoraud came to the St. Paul’s Bay outfit rescue and earned a precious point.

The Citizens were by far the superior outfit especially in the first half but found Sirens goalkeeper Montfort, who was playing instead of David Cassar, in fine form.

Though unbeaten in their last four matches, Valletta only had won one of them against lowly Senglea whilst drawing against Hibernians, Santa Lucia and last weekend with Gudja United.

The early stages of this campaign have not been so good for the Citizens with certain results possibly having a bearing later on.

Sirens, who are now getting to grips with the situation, after a lengthy lay off due to Covid-19 quarantine rules went into this match lying fourth from bottom, In their last match they lost heavily against Zejtun Corinthians.

In the early stages Valletta were in full control of the proceedings and in the 17th minute Dimech set Piciollo whose shot from just outside the area was saved by Montfort.

Two minutes later it was once again the energetic Dimech who passed towards Alba only for the latters shot to be saved once again by the Sirens goalkeeper.

Montfort was again on the alert in the 25th minute saving an Alba free kick. Valletta were unlucky not to forge ahead just two minutes later when off an Alba corner a headed effort by Jovanovic hit the crossbar.

Valletta kept piling on the pressure and two minutes from the end of the first forty five minutes they threatened once more when Santiago Malano headed towards goal meeting an Alba corner but an agile Montfort blocked the danger.

Sirens started better the second half and could have took a surprise lead on 54 minutes. Tounkara made his way past Bonello and crossed towards Mifsud but the ex-international striker instead of concluding tried to control with Jovanovic clearing the danger.

Twenty minutes from the end of the match Valletta were reduced to ten man when Jovanovic was given the marching orders after a harsh tackle on Samba Tounkara.

Minutes later Zerafa had a shot from outside the area which just missed the target. And in the 78th minute a diagonal shot by Nwoko was saved by Montfort.

To add insult to injury Valletta were further reduced when Sala was sent off following a second bookable offence.

But the Citizens though severely handicapped threw everything on the attack and six minutes from the end they took the lead. Off a Fenech corner Jonathan Caruana found the net with a beautiful header.

In added time Sirens first had a Maxwell Maia shot which was saved by Bonello. But more drama was to follow as in the 96th minute Maia found Wilfred Domoraud who from close range slotted past Bonello to save the day for Sirens.

Photo Domenic Aquilina