Silver Strikers yesterday displayed grit to twice level the scores in open play before seeing off Nyasa Big Bullets 4-2 in post-match penalties in the quarter-finals of the FDH Bank Cup at Silver Stadium in Lilongwe.
The match was marred by ugly scenes before kick-off near the stadium premises in Area 47, Lilongwe where some Bullets fans were roughed up by alleged Silver fans.
The Central Bankers will now face Mighty Wanderers in the semi-final.
In the shoot out, Silver’s left-back Mark Fodya netted the decisive spot-kick that sent the Reserve Bank of Malawi-sponsored side through to the semis after Henry Kabichi’s penalty was kept out by Silver goalkeeper Charles Thom.
Prince Phiri for Silver and Sankhani Mkandawire for the People’s Team also failed to convert their spot-kicks.
Chisomo Mpachika, Patrick Macheso and Levison Mganizo converted the other penalties for the Central Bankers with ease while Yamikani Fodya and Chimango Kayira did the same for Bullets.
In open play, the Blantyre-based TNM Super League champions took the lead in the fourth minute when striker Hassan Kajoke coolly headed home a MacFarlen Mgwira cross from the right against the run of play.
Sensing danger, the hosts reorganised themselves and pulled level through Stain Dave who took advantage of a defensive lapse to slot the ball past helpless Bullets goalminder Rabson Chiyenda.
Bullets reclaimed the lead four minutes after recess through Zicco Mkanda and, again, Mgwira was the architect having floated the ball with precision for Mkanda to ghost in to provide the final flourish.
But 15 minutes later, the Central Bankers drew level again through Dave who headed home a Blessings Tembo free-kick.
Tembo fluffed a golden chance when he failed to slot the ball home with only ‘keeper Chiyenda at his mercy and relief was the prevalent emotion in Bullets camp.
Bullets coach Callisto Pasuwa blamed the loss on fatigue as the team played crammed fixtures at the Confederation of East and Central Africa Inter Club Championship in Tanzania.
“The boys played well, we were unfortunate to give the lead away twice. Penalties can go either way, so I would say we were unlucky to some extent,” he said.
On his part, Silver assistant coach McDonald Yobe hailed the players for their fighting spirit.
“Credit should go to the boys for fighting all the way. It is not easy to come from behind twice and then win a game,” he said.
Tembo was named man-of-the-match and pocketed K50 000.
