Bullets reserves shoot down giant
Nyasa Big Bullets Reserves yesterday caused a major upset of the FDH Bank Cup by booting out Mighty Waka Waka Tigers with a 3-2 post-match penalties’ victory at Mpira Stadium in Chiwembe Township, Blantyre.
After playing out a goalless draw in regulation time, the hero of the afternoon for the second-tier People’s Team reserve side was Rahaman John who saved three penalties.
Flagship TNM Super League giants Tigers converted only two penalties through Frank Chikufenji and Bright Mtondagowa. On the other hand, Chikumbutso Salima, Chrispin Mapemba and John converted for the Reserves.
Bullets Reserves coach Enos Chatama hailed his players for their fighting spirit.
“It was a tough game against a good side, but I thank my players for holding their nerves,” he said.
On the other hand, Tigers coach Trevor Kajawa said: “It was not our day, otherwise we had a lot of chances in regulation time but we couldn’t score.”
It was a double celebration in the red side of town as Bullets senior team also sailed through to the round of 16 after coming from a goal down to beat fellow TNM Super League side Sable Farming 3-1 at Mulanje Park Stadium.
Sable stunned the People’s Team with a 20th minute lead through Chifundo Ngapemba, but Bullets pulled level through Lanjesi Nkhoma after being set up by Babatunde Adepoju.
The TNM Super League champions then paraded an awesome show of force in the second half which they dominated.
Left-back Gomezgani Chirwa claimed the second for Bullets in the 53rd minute before Adepoju closed the scoresheet with 10 minutes to full-time.
Bullets defender Nickson Nyasulu was sent out for an early shower towards the end after two bookable offences.
Sable coach McDonald Mtetemera said his charges lost the plot after conceding the first goal.
He said: “We made some silly mistakes at the back which cost us the game. We will go back to the drawing board and work on our shortfalls.”
Bullets second assistant coach Heston Munthali said they knew it would be a tough game following their recent Super League match which they struggled to win 1-0.
He said: “When they [Sable] took the lead, we advised our players not to panic, but stick to our game plan and it worked.”
In another round of 32 match, Moyale Barracks also came from behind to beat lower league side Ngwanje 2-1.
Yohane Nkhoma put Ngwanje in front in the 63rd minute, but Gastin Simkonda cancelled the lead two minutes later before Llod Njaliwa struck the winner for the Malawi Defence Force (MDF) side in the dying minutes.
At Balaka Stadium, it was an all-military affair where Red Lions beat Airbase 3-1. Humphreys Minandi, Moses Nankumba and Royal Bokosi were on target for the Reds while William Luhanga claimed Airbases consolation goal.
In other games, Civil Service United edged Baka City 1-0 via Muhamad Biason’s strike while Karonga United beat Iponga 2-1.
