A strike in each half from Lanjesi Nkhoma and MacFallen Mgwira at Kamuzu Stadium on Sunday afternoon handed Nyasa Big Bullets a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Mighty Tigers FC to enable the People’s Team progress to the last eight of the FDH Bank Knockout Cup..
Bullets were dominant in the opening minutes but failed to unlock the stubborn Tigers FC defense led by Boston Kabango.
However, a breakthrough finally came in the 20th minute when Bullets Midfielder Mischeck Selemani and Defender Erick Kaonga exchanged passes to find Nkhoma who produced a simple finish to beat the KauKau Boy’s goalkeeper Dalitso Khungwa and give Bullets the lead.
The Super League Champions’ celebration was almost cut short when Tigers forward, Kondwani Chilembwe observed Bullets stopper, Rabson Chiyenda, off his line and released a thunderous shot but missed the target with an inch, much to the relief of Bullets.
The hosts suffered a blow towards the end of the first half when goal scorer Nkhoma sustained an injury after he collided with Emmanuel Nyirenda and the youngster was replaced by Chiukepo Msowoya at half time.
In the second half, Tigers took over from Bullets with some series of offensive play from Blessings Banda, Precious Chiudza, Chilembwe and Ganizani Anthony but Bullets’ defence stood firm to protect Chiyenda, who was the busiest of the two goal minders in the opening minutes of the half.
The Kanjedza boys nearly equalized in the 58th minute when Chiudza chested down a cross from Anthony before firing at goal but Chiyenda produce a save for a corner kick that defender Sankhani Mkandawire cleared.
The Trevor Kajawa side made a triple substitution in the 60th minute bringing in Johns Kanyumba, Mphatso Katsonga and Masiya Manda for Kondwani Chilembwe, Anthony Namwera and Ganizani Anthony to try to increase their attacking options.
The change brought an imminent impact as the visitors invaded Bullets’ goal area and they almost found the equalizer in the 65th minute when Katsonga connected well Manda’s cross only to be denied by Chiyenda for another corner.
Sensing danger, Bullets assistant coach Peter Mponda made a double substitution and threw in Precious Phiri and Ben Manyozo for Misheck Selemani and Paul Kansungwi.
Bullets were struggling to find their attacking rhythm but nearly doubled their lead after midfieder McPharen Ngwira forced a brilliant save from Khungwa.
In the 75th minute, Chiudza was replaced by Chikaiko Batson and Bullets kept on living dangerously but they were kept in the game by Chiyenda who made everything possible to frustrate Kajawa’s men.
In the 83rd minute, Tigers squandered another goal-scoring opportunity when Batson, Manda and Katsonga invaded Bullets’ goal but they failed to outsmart Chiyenda who produced yet another save for a corner kick.
The hosts were anxiously waiting for the final whistle whilst Tigers were racing against time to find the equalizer which never came as the Kalisto Pasuwa side defended with their hearts out to put one leg into the quarterfinals.
Bullets finally doubled their lead in the 90th minute in a brilliant fashion.
Individual brilliance from Chimwemwe Idana saw the midfielder dribbling past three Tigers’ defenders before finding Mgwira who made no mistake by releasing a shot from outside the penalty box which was too much for Khungwa.
Bullets should have added a third goal in the last minute of the additional minutes but Idana was slow to make a decision allowing Boston Kabango to regroup and clear the danger away from his territory.
The 2-0 win means the People’s Team are through to the quarterfinals and they will be waiting to know their opponent following draw to be conducted by Football Association of Malawi (FAM).
Speaking after the final whistle, Bullets’ Assistant Coach Mponda hailed his players for the victory but he was quick to salute Tigers for giving his side a tough run for their money.
“We were playing a very good side but experience won us the match today. Tigers gave us a tough run but my players were very alert to neutralize every threat from Kajawa’s men and in the end, we progressed to the next round. The battle is far from over because the higher you go, the tougher it becomes,” he said.
On the other part, Kajawa said they lost to a good side but blamed his boys for missing some of the chances created, saying at such level of a competition, every opportunity counts.
“We have lost to every good side but I also blame my boys for not scoring those opportunities we created today. We had some clear cut chances but we couldn’t score and at this level of a competition, every chance counts and by the end of the day, we got punished but that’s football, we live to fight for another day,” he told the media.
Elsewhere,, minnows Dedza Young Soccer became the second team from Premier Division to Knockout a Super League team after they beat Blue Eagles 5-4 on penalties following a 1-1 draw regulation time.
Eagles midfieder Micium Mhone had given the Area 30 based side an early lead in the 5th minute but Felix Msowoya leveled ten minutes later to take the match into penalties from which Wonder Jereman missed his spot kick, allowing Thandizo Chimwala to score the winning penalty.
The result means the quarterfinal lineup is now complete with Ntopwa FC, Silver Strikers, Rumphi United, Ekwendeni Hammers, Be Forward Wanderers, Nyasa Big Bullets, Dedza Young Soccer and Mafco FC set to compete for a place in the semifinals of the competition.
