Nyasa Big Bullets set a new record in the Airtel Top 8 Cup after they hammered Karonga United 7-0 in the Quarterfinal first leg match played at Kamuzu Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Ever since the cup’s inception in 2017, no team has ever registered such a score margin at any stage of the competition, with Bullets’ 4-1 win over cross-town rivals Mighty Mukuru Wanderers in the semifinals last year being the highest scoring match heading into the fifth edition.
Bullets’ destroyer-in-chief on the day was Lanjesi Nkhoma who netted a brace, with the other goals coming from Anthony Mfune, Babatunde Adepoju, Stanley Billiat, Henry Kabichi and Precious Phiri.
From the word go today, the signs were clear that Bullets, who were coming from their first ever defeat in the domestic competitions to Mafco FC last week in the league, were hungry for goals and with second leg coming in three weeks time, they attacked from all angles in search of the opener to ease pressure on themselves.
Just a minute into the match, Nkhoma saw his ferocious shot outside penalty box hitting the post.
Moments later, Nkhoma was at the receiving end of a fantastic cross from Gomezgani Chirwa but the forward failed to connect home when the visitors’ defense was in tatters.
The hosts were pressing from all angles and Mfune miscued his effort when he was set through by Patrick Mwaungulu, who returned to the starting eleven after missing out of last week’s action.
But in the 12th minute, Bullets got their opening goal in a brilliant fashion.
Nickson Nyasulu started the move with a long pass to Thomson Magombo who later released Mwaungulu to the right.
The pacey winger wasted no time by sending a dangerous pass inside the penalty box which was missed by all Karonga United defenders before funding unmarked Mfune who just made a simple tap in, 1-0.
This was the beginning of more trouble for the visitors who were now destined to receive baptism of fire from the dominant forces.
But despite conceding, the Northern Region based outfit pressed in search of a quick equalizer and they should have had one when Mphatso Kamanga managed to taunt Bullets’ backline defense before splitting them apart bur his powerful shot was well saved by Clever Mkungula who also returned to the starting eleven after recovering from flue.
In the 27th minute, Josiah Duwa exchanged passes with Sherrif Shamama who set through Geoffrey Kadzitche and the forward released a very powerful show which was again well saved by Mkungula.
Bullets doubled their lead on the half-hour mark through Nkhoma who slotted home from Gomezgani Chirwa’s brilliant pass into the box, 2-0.
Pasuwa’s side suffered a blow in the 35th minute when Mfune sustained an injury and he was replaced by Babatunde.
The hosts put the game beyond ‘Ingwina’ when Eric Atsigah’ led back-four failed to clear a long ball from Precious Sambani into the box and landed straight at Nkhoma who calmly controlled the ball, took his time before hitting it with power to the roof of the net, 3-0.
The first half action came to an end with Bullets in the lead with a 12 goal attempts, eight on target and only three at the back of the net. Their opponents had only four goal attempts with only two on target with not much threat to The People’s Team mission.
The second half began in similar fashion as the first had ended as Babatunde struck an effort from the edge of the box that missed Lloyd Munthali’s upright with an inch.
The visitors made a triple substitution three minutes after the recess when Munthali, Hygiene Mwendepeka and Kadzitche were replaced by Ramadan Ntafu, Gift Mwazembe and Allen Chihana.
Bullets crafted another chance for themselves in the 52nd minute when Frank Willard used his skill to send a million-dollar pass to Babatunde who used his pace to get the better of Atsigah before beating the advanced Mwazembe into the net with a simple volley, 4-0.
Kamanga was at it again with an ambitious long-range effort that went over the bar when Bullets’ Hadji Wali led defense was caught napping in the line of duty.
With another game coming on Wednesday, Pasuwa introduced Kabichi, Ernest Petro and Billiat for Chimwemwe Idana, Magombo and Nkhoma to manage the players as more games are still coming thick and thin for The People’s Team.
after 76 minutes on the clock, Billiat used his pace to outrun Atsigah and with Babatunde in front of him, the winger made an impassive decision when he decided to shoot from a very unfamiliar position only to see his weaker shot going straight into the hands of Mwazembe.
The floodgates were well and open for Bullets from 82 minutes to 90 when The People’s Team scored three more goals.
Billiat added a fifth goal in the 82 minute with a simple finish. Coming from the middle of the pitch, Sambani spotted Babatunde up from and delivered a long pass towards the attacker, who eventually directed the ball to Billiat who just needed a simple touch to put the ball into the net.
Things just kept getting better for Pasuwa’ side who made it six shortly through Kabichi who released a thunderous shot outside the penalty box to beat Mwazembe to the far bottom corner.
Precious Phiri, who came in for Chirwa made it seven in the 90th minute when he confidently tapped in from a loose ball following Karonga United’s failure to clear a corner kick which was taken by Mwaungulu.
The defending champions controlled their lead with relative ease and their opponents consigned themselves to defeat.
The second leg will be played on 26 November at Karonga Stadium.
Follow us on Twitter:
