Wizards stun Blue Eagles
- Civo, Mzuni booted out of Carlsberg Cup
Wizards FC put aside their horrible performance in the TNM Super League and displayed a bewitching performance as they came from behind to boot out high-flying Blue Eagles from the 2016 Carlsberg Cup with a 2-1 victory at Surestream Stadium in Chilomoni Township, Blantyre.
At Silver Stadium in Lilongwe, Silver Strikers underlined their dominance over their capital city rivals Civo United with a 1-0 win courtesy of Mathews Sibale strike.
There was another upset in round of 32 when little known Warm Hearts Bullets stunned Super League outfit Mzuzu University (Mzuni) FC 1-0 through a Justin Duwe goal.
In the Wizards vs Eagles contest, the Malawi Police Service (MPS) outfit scored first through Gilbert Chirwa 13 minutes into the match.
But Wizards, playing at their former home ground where most of the players honed their skills while with the defunct Surestream Academy, fought back and equalised through Hendrix Mitsinde. The midfielder came back to haunt Eagles as he completed a brace for Wizards to qualify for last 16.
Wizards coach McDonald Yobe hailed his charges for the win which comes just after a disastrous outing in Mzuzu where they lost to Mzuzu Mzuni and Moyale Barracks in the TNM Super League.
“This is a great display from the team. It was a perfect response to the double loss we suffered in Mzuzu,” he said.
In the capital city derby, Silver miraculously survived all the horrible tackles, opponents’ resilient defending and fans sporadic boos to blitz past the Civil Servants and into the last 16.
After Civo had given away too many free-kicks and getting away with the crimes, there came a time they could not. In the second minute of added time, Silver were awarded a free-kick just a few metres away from the halfway line.
Captain Lucky Malata dropped in a brilliant set-piece and Sibale rose up like an eagle to pummel the ball home and the Bankers’ fans, who were in muted silence, broke into wild celebrations.
In a post-match interview, Silver assistant coach Lovemore Fazili said: “It was a tough game but winning in this fashion is really pleasing. I thank the players for not giving up.”
At Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre, Big Bullets had no mercy for Chipiku Central Region Football Association (CRFA) Premier League rookies Masters Security routing them 5-0.
Straight from the bench after replacing Aimable Niyikiza, Chiukepo Msowoya put Nyasa Big Bullets in the lead after volleying from a Emmanuel Zoya throw-in. Midfielder Kondwani Kumwenda doubled the lead in the 51st minute from close range after a corner kick.
Zoya made it 3-0 burying a rebound from a Fischer Kondowe free kick in the 77th minute. Bullets wrapped up the routing with two quick goals from Chiukepo and Kondowe in added time.
In Mzuzu Moyale Barracks booked a place in the last 16 after beating Karonga United 1-0 through a Christopher Zgambo strike.
