Bye bye neba
Nyasa Big Bullets on Saturday proved their superiority over rivals Be Forward Wanderers after a second-half inspiring performance gave them a 2-1 victory in Airtel Top 8 semi-final.
They now face Blue Eagles, who were the first to book a place in the final after seeing off defending champions Silver Strikers a week ago.
Wanderers dominated the opening half but were unable to break Bullets’ defence, having squandered a couple of clear-cut chances.
Playing with a lone striker Khumbo Ng’ambi, the Nomads have themselves to blame for the missed opportunities.
In the absence of suspended Peter Wadabwa, Ng’ambi ended up messing up several scoring opportunities to the disbelief of Nyerere fans.
Joseph Kamwendo was also to blame for failing to utilise some chances created in the first-half as Bullets camped in their half, barely troubling their rivals.
The Nomads continued their onslaught in the second-half, but somehow were still missing that killer punch.
They would pay heavily for their misfiring as Bullets led in the 62nd minute, when Bright Munthali connected home a Fischer Kondowe corner-kick.
Bullets fans, most of them clad in their traditional red and white colours, roared in passionate celebration.
Just as Wanderers tried to secure an instant equaliser, Bullets doubled the lead, almost in the same style.
Kondowe whipped in another corner-kick which Chipuwa parried the ball away, but not safe enough as Munthali’s overhead kick found Msowoya, who nodded it home.
Wanderers pulled one back through substitute Zicco Mkanda in the 83rd minute.
He caught Bullets defence in a slumber when Yamikani Chester cleverly laid it for Mkanda to fire home from close range.
But it was too little too late as Bullets hang on to the lead and secured their first Airtel Top 8 final slot.
Bullets coach Rodgers Yasin said it was amazing to win the match.
“We controlled the game in the second-half and I am proud that the boys fought hard to win,” he said.
Wanderers team manager Steve Madeira said they were disappointed to lose a game in which they created more chances than their rivals.
He said: “We had the match in our control but somehow we were caught off guard and conceded when we least expected it. We feel down but hopefully we will recover and improve.”
