Gudja United 0
Sirens 6
Sirens’ stunning run in the FA Trophy continued as the Division Two outfit crushed First Division leaders Gudja United.
In the previous round, Kevin Vella’s team eliminated Żurrieq 5-2 and yesterday they were again at their rampant best as they tore apart a weakened Gudja side whose decision to rest some of their first-team players backfired.
Lee Schembri was the architect behind Sirens’ victory as he scored a brace and set up two other goals to lead his team to an historic quarter-finals berth.
Gudja coach Joe Borg fielded a makeshift formation with goalkeeper Yenz Cini, defenders Ranier Buhagiar and Edile Micheletti, midfielder Ryan Cauchi and forwards Udo Nwoko and Joselito all dropped to the bench along with new signing Isaac Galea who joined on loan from Floriana. Nick Ghio, another January signing, was handed his debut at right-back.
Gudja looked a disjointed lot and it was no surprise that they fell behind on 15 minutes.
Schembri sped clear on the right before sending a low cross into the path of Daniel Cremona who stabbed the ball past goalkeeper Matthew Xerxen.
Gudja looked shattered and their hopes suffered another blow when Schembri was again the provider as he released Ryan Sciberras who turned past his marker before hitting a rising shot into the net.
The contest looked all but over ten minutes from the break when Xerxen charged out of his goal but lost his footing and was dispossessed by Schembri who wiggled past three defenders before hitting low into the net.
Coach Borg was clearly unhappy and introduced Buhagiar and Nwoko in a bid to transform his team’s fortunes.
But Sirens had other plans and on 51 minutes Schembri again took centre stage when embarking on a mazy run that took him past three defenders before planting the ball beyond Xerxen’s reach.
The northerners almost struck again a minute later when John Debono squared the ball to the unmarked Daniel Sant who was anticipated by Xerxen.
Nwoko should have pulled one back when he was put clear by Mauro Brincat but fired over with only goalkeeper Gianni Spiteri to beat.
More woes followed for Gudja though as they were reduced to ten men when Ghio was dismissed for a second booking.
Sirens made it 5-0 on 70 minutes when in a swift raid George Chircop beat the offside trap to set up Sciberras who stabbed the ball home.
And the St Paul’s Bay team completed the rout four minutes from time when substitute Clifford Obinwanne raced clear before beating Xerxen for Sirens’ sixth goal.
Gudja: M. Xerxen, N. Ghio, M. Brincat, C. Giordmaina (46 R. Buhagiar), C. Farrugia, G. Chircop, W. Moodley, G. Di Mare (55 I. Galea), A. Carabott, C. Grech, D. Antonucci (46 U. Nwoko).
Sirens: G. Spiteri, D. Sant, A. Neda, K. Galea, A. Debattista, G. Falzon (79 J. Zammit), D. Cremona (71 C. Obinwanne), J. De-bono, R. Severino, R. Sciberras, L. Schembri (74 A. Caruana).
Referee: Jude Utulu.
Red card: Ghio (Gudja United – 62nd minute).