Sirens overcame Balzan with a 4-2 score in an entertaining and hard fought game.

Sirens twice were in the lead with goals from Romario Lucas Memezes (penalty), and Thiago Espindola. Balzan twice hit back to level matters through Ricardo Calixto Correa Duarte and Andrija Majdevac but after Emmanuel Okoye scored a third for Sirens, Balzan failed to rally for a third time. Instead, it was Sirens who assured themselves of victory with another Emmauel Okoye goal.

Balzan went in search of an early goal and after just two minutes, Uros Ljubomirac exchanged the ball with Alfred Effiong but his low shot being saved by goalkeeper David Cassar.

Sirens took the lead in the 9^th minute, When they were awarded a penalty after Romario Lucas Menezes tried to round with Nenad Sljivic with the latter handling the ball. From the resultant spot-kick, the same ROMARIO LUCAS MEMEZES made no mistake.

Balzan reacted and two minutes later goalkeeper David Cassar saved an attempt by Alfred Effiong.

In the 14^th minute, Thiago Espindola went close with a free-kick from the right which was turned into a corner and three minutes later, sirens threatened once again with a shot from outside the area by Romario Lucas Menezes which finished wide.

In the 27^th minute, following a low cross by Ricardo Correa which was not connected by anyone, it was Alfred Effiong who tested the goalkeeper seriously, but the David Cassar partially parried the ball only for the same Alfred Effiong to hit wide off target.

Two minutes later, at the other end, Emmanuel Okoye served Wellington De Oliveira who was close with a fine dipper which goalkeeper Kristijan Naumovski managed to tip to corner.

In the 35^th minute, Sirens were dangerous when in a swift counter-attack, Raphael Dos Anjos dribbled past three Balzan players and served Wellington De Oliveira who in turn advanced advance into the Balzan area and crossed to Emmanuel Okoye, whose close range shot was miraculously saved by goalie Kristijan Naumovski.

Balzan equalised in the 44^th minute. They were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the area, from which, RICARDO CALIXTO CORREA DUARTE’s shot was slightly deviated by a Ige Abdullah Adeshina into the net.

However in the first half added time Sirens regained the lead. A free kick from a considerable distance taken by THIAGO ESPANDOLA surprised the whole Balzan defence including goalkeeper Kristijan Naumovski as it bounced off the ground and finished at the back of the net.

Balzan came out in the second half searching for an early equaliser and in the 50^th minute, following a free-kick taken by Steve Pisani, Aleksandar Kosoric saw his header finishing just wide.

A minute later Balzan equalised again.  It was a fine solo effort by ANDRIJA MAJDEVAC who advanced into the left flank of the area, dribbling past a couple of players on the run, and finally dribbling Romeu Pericles Romao before hitting past David Cassar with an angled shot.

In the 64^th minute, Sirens appealed for a penalty when Emmanuel Okoye received a perfect pass from Wellington De Oliveira and appeared to have been floored by a Balzan defender. But the referee who was close to the action waved play on.

Soon after, Wellington De Oliveira set Flavio Silva Cheveresan in the Balzan area, but goalkeeper Kristijan Naumovski rushed out of his place to block his shot into corner.

In the 79^th minute, Sirens regained the lead for the third time when Ryan Grech set EMMANUEL OKOYE in the Balzan area who in turn managed to beat the onrushing Kristijan Naumovski.

In the 83^rd minute, goalkeeper David Cassar was there to save a direct free-kick taken by Steven Pisani.

Sirens sealed the issue in the 88^th minute. While most of the players both sides from both sides stopped because of one of the Sirens player was injured in their area, a couple of Sirens players kept playing on and in a swift counterattack Romario Lucas Memezes set EMMANUEL OKOYE who managed to beat Balzan goalkeeper Kristijan Naumovski from close range.

Deep into stoppage time, Alfred Effiong set Uros Ljubomirac but goalkeeper David Cassar rushed out of his charge to clear in extremis.

After the final whistle there were arguments between both sets of players and the referee showed a red card to Nenad Sljivic and a yellow card to Flavio Silva Cheveresan.

BALZAN : Kristijan Naumovski, Aleksandar Kosoric, Nenad Sljivic, Steve Pisani, Paul Fenech, Alfred Effiong, Uros Ljubomirac, Ivan Bozovic, Ryan Scicluna (Dale Camilleri 74’), Ricardo Calixto Correa Duarte, Andrija Majdevac.

SIRENS : David Cassar, Ryan Grech, Wellington De Oliveira, Sergio Raphael dos Anjos Raphael, Emmanuel Okoye, Adrian Borg, Ige Abdullahi Adeshina, Romeu Pericles Romao, Romario Lucas Memezes, Thiago Espindola de Paula, Flavio Silva Cheveresan.

Referee: Etienne Mangion

BOV Player of the Match: Wellington de Oliveira