Silver, civo through to semi-finals
Silver Strikers yesterday qualified for the semi-final of the ongoing Standard Bank Knockout Trophy after beating Blantyre United 5-3 on post-match penalties at Kalulu Stadium in Nchalo.
Regulation time had ended 1-1 to pave the way for penalty lotteries which saw Silver goalkeeper Charles Swini saving substitute Tafara Mopiha’s spot-kick. It was a perfect revenge as United a fortnight ago defeated Silver 2-1 in the TNM Super League.
Frank Banda, Green Harawa, Blessings Tembo, Lazarus Nyemela and Young Chimodzi Junior converted the Bankers’ penalties. United scored through Yamikani Tambala, Aiko Maluwa and Osward Maonga only for Mopiha to shoot straight at Swini.
In any case, United should be grateful that the game went into penalties, thanks to their captain Greyson Phiri who scored from the dreaded spot after Silver captain Lucky Malata had fouled advancing Gerald Mwanza on the 90th minute.
Phiri’s goal had cancelled out Nyemela’s 58th minute goal that put Silver ahead. United were punished for misplacing passes, being sluggish on the ball and playing aerial balls which Malata and company dealt with.
The first half was largely lifeless with few openings even though Nyemela hit the post and a Blantyre United defender had to sweep away a goal-bound shot.
Earlier, Mwanza had scorched Swini palms with a near-post shot before Malata kicked out Anthony Banda’s left-flank square cross.
Second half started in similar sloppy fashion, but Silver did enough to warn United when Blessings Tembo fired over the bar after Phiri had headed the ball on to his path while clearing a cross from the left.
United looked vulnerable on the left fank and they finally paid dearly on the 58th minute.
Banda measured his low cross, Harawa skipped it in the box, United defence was left in sixes and sevens, allowing Nyemela to burst from the deep and fire into the net.
The Elia Kananji men’s patience paid off in the dying minuites of the game when Malata was fouled in the box for referee Mabvuto Msimuko to point to the dreaded spot one minute into injury time.
United captain Phiri stepped forward to coolly dispatch the ball past Swini who had guessed well by diving right only for the power of the ball to beat him. Post-match penalties followed.
In post-match interview, Kananji accepted defeat saying “it was a good game. Football was the winner since both teams played well, but we gifted Silver a goal. That’s part of the game.”
In Lilongwe, Civo got back to winning ways after the sacking of former coach Tom Mkolongo when they beat visiting Big Bullets 1-0.
Midfielder Patrick Gunde was the hero in Civo’s camp after his free-kick 14 minutes into the second half gave Civo a passage into the semi-finals.
Civo deserved the victory as they were the better side of the afternoon and their striker Jabulani Linje was a thorn in the flesh for Bullets defence.
Civo coach Oscar Kaunda said his charges performed according to instructions and deserved the victory.
“It is a great victory after a frustrating season,” he said.
Bullets assistant coach Gerald Phiri accepted defeat.
“We were unlucky today. It is sad but we have to accept the loss,” he said.
