Watch: Lopes Silva brace leads Ħamrun Spartans past holders Sliema Wanderers and into semi-finals

ĦAMRUN SPARTANS   2

Lopes Silva 15, 27

SLIEMA WANDERERS  0

ĦAMRUN SPARTANS

H. Bonello, M. Ellul (76 R. Camenzuli), S. Borg, S. Xerri, J. Mbong, R. Prsa (76 J. Cadenovic), E. Freitas, R. Mihana (90 D. Letherby), E. Marcelina (76 Mayron), C. Menacho, R. Lopes Silva (76 K. Amoustapha).

SLIEMA WANDERERS:

K. Agu, J. Borg, A. Magri Overend (88 K. Nwoko), M. Beerman (46 M. Prijadun), G. Alcino, Wescley, H. Murillo (79 N. Frendo) , G. Acheampong, S. Pisani (79 S. Zibo), M. Awad.

Referee: Fyodor Zammit.

Yellow cards: Alcino, Borg, Plut, Beerman, Priadun, Acheampong.

Red card: Acheampong (S) 90.

Ħamrun Spartans remained on course for a league and cup double when they knocked out holders Sliema Wanderers from the Meridianbet FA Trophy with a clinical performance at the Tony Bezzina Stadium.

Raphael Lopes Silva was the Spartans hero as the Brazilian forward notched a well-taken double in the first half to put his team into the semi-finals where they will await the winners of today’s quarter-final between Hibernians and Naxxar Lions at the Tony Bezzina Stadium.

It was a clinical performance from the Reds who managed to contain Sliema’s efforts to breach their goal and were very efficient with quick transition play through their front trio of Lopes Silva, Cesar Menacho, and Redon Mihana to get the all-important goals that lifted the team into the last four.

Ħamrun Spartans coach Alessandro Zinnari rang the changes from Sunday’s defeat to Gżira United as he included five new faces to his starting XI.

Mattias Ellul, Emerson Marcelina, Redon Mihana, Roko Prsa and Cesar Menacho were all drafted in at the expense of Ryan Camenzuli, Mayron, Jovan Cadjenovic, Talison and Luke Montebello.

The match was evenly-balanced in the opening minutes with both sides looking to ascertain their dominance early on.

It was the Spartans who struck the first blow on 14 minutes when Redon Mihana sent a delightful path into the path of Raphael Lopes Silva who sped clear of the Sliema defence and chipped the ball over the onrushing Kelvin Agu in the Sliema goal.

The Blues were clearly struggling and Ħamrun managed to double their lead with another well-worked goal.

Roko Prsa picked Cesar Menacho inside the area and the Bolivian forward showed great skill to turn psat Henrique Murillo and hit a firm volley that hit the bar with the ball bouncing kindly for Lopes Silva to head home.

Sliema’s first attempt towards goal arrived on 33 minutes but Geoffrey Acheampong’s strike flew well over the bar.

Sliema continued to struggle to breach the well-positioned Ħamrun defence and ended up trying their luck from the distance. On 39 minutes, Acheampong again tried his luck but again failed to hit the target.

The Wanderers’ best chance arrived five minutes into the second haf when Vito Plut found space inside the area but was denied by Henry Bonello.

Sliema were unlucky on 74 minutes when Wescley unleashed a powerful strike that beat Bonello but came off the upright and from the rebound Priyadum’s shot was saved by Bonello.

Ħamrun remained in control in the final minutes of the match as although Sliema piled up the pressure they could not find a way past Henry Bonello.  

Sliema ended the match with ten men as Geoffrey Acheampong was shown two quick yellow cards and was dismissed.