Sirens shock Hibernians to extend positive run

With a goal in each half, Sirens managed to beat Hibernians 2-1 at the Centenary Stadium on Saturday to move temporarily on top the BOV Premier League table.

It was a deserved win for Steve D’Amato’s side as they took full advantage of the chances they created to take home another three precious points after beating Mosta in their previous game.

For Hibernians, this was the first defeat following a draw with Gudja and a win over Tarxien.

Sirens took the lead on the 9th minute when a free kick by Thiago Espindola De Paula from the right beat goalkeeper Marko Jovicic as Flavio Cheveresan attempted to head the ball home.

Nine minutes in the second half, Sirens doubled the score when off a cross by Ezequiel Cesani from the left, Flavio Cheveresan advanced into the area before beating Jovicic with a diagonal shot from the right.

Bjorn Kristensen hit the crossbar with a header off a corner by Jake Grech on the hour. Substitute Terence Groothusen hit the upright with a shot from inside the area on the 91st minute.

However, on the 95th, the Paolites scored a consolation goal thanks to an own goal when a shot by Groothusen was partially saved by goalkeeper David Cassar with the ball bouncing onto defender Daniel Sant before ending at the back of the net.

SIRENS David Cassar, Wellington de Oliveira (81′ Russell Fenech), Sergio Raphael dos Anjos, Emmanuel Okoye, Siraj Arab Eddin (68′ Luke Sciberras), Angel Manuel Bustos, Adrian Borg (90+2′ Daniel Sant), Ige Abdullahi Adeshina, Ezequiel Cesani, Thiago Espindola de Paula, Flavio Cheveresan.
Subs not used: Miguel Montfort, Kevin Muscat, Mustafa Elanadar, Jacques Muscat.
Coach: Stephen D’Amato
Asst. Coach: Eamon Bugeja

HIBS Marko Jovicic, Ferdinando Apap, Leandro Marcio Barbosa da Silveira (40’ Terrence Groothusen), Joseph Mbong, Jake Grech, Bjorn Kristensen, Dunstan Vella (90+1′ Timothy Tabone Desira), Charles Buaku Atsina (57′ Myles Beerman), Gabriel Izquier Artiles, Andrei Agius, Leonardo Nanni.
Subs not used: Matthew Calleja Cremona, Matthew Ellul, Ayrton Attard, Daneel Abela.
Coach: Stefano Sanderra
Asst. Coach: Ryan Pulis

Referee: Darryl Agius
Assistant Referees: Duncan Sultana, Darko Stankovic
Fourth Official: Fyodor Zammit
Yellow Cards:Cesani, Barbosa, Bustos, Okoye, Mbong
BOV Player of the Match: Thiago Espindola de Paula