Ten-men Sirens crush Rabat

Sirens played with 10 men for 69 minutes but they managed to turn defeat into victory as they were the better outfit during the whole game.

Rabat created the first two actions. Sven Fabri served Andre’ Debattista with a short free kick and he drove slightly over the bar and Fabri was then fouled on the left flank but from Shawn Galea’s free kick Matthew Borg drove well off target from inside the area.

In the 11th minute Sirens were reduced to 10 men as Bradley Genius was shown a straight red card for a reckless tackle on Kieran Agius and three minutes later Rabat opened the score when Borg received the ball from a long drop-kick by keeper Gilmore Muscat on the right flank and after entering the area, scored with a hard low drive past Sirens keeper Maxwell Bonnet.

Sirens restored parity in the 24th minute when Lucas Falzon was fouled outside the area and Jonathan Dennis scored with a low drive from the free kick.

Two minutes later they scored a second goal as Falzon released Dennis on the left flank and he gave no chance to Muscat with a hard rising shot.

Rabat created the last action before the break when Shawn Galea served Fabri in the area and Bonnet saved his effort in two attempts.

Sirens dominated the second period. Jake Saliba released Dennis in the area and after Muscat partly saved his shot, the ball was cleared to a corner. Matteo Gentile then released Dennis in the area but hit wide after a partial save by Muscat.

Falzon late drove slightly over the bar from a free kick.

In an action by Rabat, substitute Tristan Schembri was fouled on the left flank but the ball was easily cleared away from the free kick by Galea.

Eight minutes before the end Sirens put the issue beyond doubt as substitute Yasin Assowen served Falzon with a through ball in the area who

scored with a low drive.

In the last action before the end, Rabat forward Ranson Debono was fouled on the left flank and Borg drove slightly out from the free kick.

Rabat: G.Muscat, K.Agius, S.Galea, T.Ciangura, A.Debattista, S.Fabri, M.Borg, G.Galea, B.Graham, R.Debono, S.Vella

Sirens: M.Bonnet, M.Gentile, I.Debono, M.Briffa, K.Sciberras, C.Pace, T.Lothan, J.Saliba, J.Dennis, B.Genius, L.Falzon Referee: Dorian Caruana Player of the match: Lucas Falzon (Sirens)