Blue Eagles have cruised into Castel Challenge Cup quarterfinals after a 3-1 hammering of Kamuzu Barracks (KB) at Civo Stadium in Lilongwe Thursday.
The result means Eagles are the fourth team to have booked their slot in the competition’s last eight this week after three others went through on Wednesday.
The three are Silver Strikers, Bangwe All Stars and Moyale Barracks.
Silver thumped Ekwendeni United 7-1 at Bingu National Stadium whereas Bangwe defeated Mafco 1-0 at Mpira Stadium in Blantyre with Moyale claiming a 3-2 victory over Mighty Wakawaka Tigers at Mzuzu Stadium.
In Thursday’s match, Eagles swept aside KB with goals from Richard Rapson, Laurent Banda and Christopher Gototo whereas Zinjani Yona scored the consolation for the soldiers.
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Straight from their 3-2 loss to FCB Nyasa Big Bullets in the semifinals of the Airtel Top 8 Cup, Eagles proved too good for KB who did not turn up for the party.
The soldiers were second on the ball and lacked firepower upfront.
Rapson drew first blood in the 26th minute of the match with a tap-in from Banda’s cross.
After the break, KB nearly equalised through Gregory Nachipo but he failed to beat goalkeeper Chakonda Majanga.
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Gototo had several chances that could have seen Eagles increase the goal tally but he was wasteful.
Banda doubled Eagles’ lead with a close range finish in the 63rd minute.
But Gototo made amends for his earlier misses when he grabbed the policemen’s third goal in the 83rd minute.
Yona managed to get KB’s face saver in added time from the penalty spot after an Eagles defender handed in the box.
The Area 30-based side’s coach Elia Kananji said he was pleased with the victory.
“This is sweet revenge after they beat us in the league. I told the players to believe in themselves and they did exactly that. So I am a happy man,” Kananji said.
KB assistant coach Ted Kalinda was dejected with the result.
“Our players lacked the desire and hunger to win the match. It is a painful result for us,” Kalinda said.
The four teams have joined Chitipa United, Ekwendeni Hammers and Mighty Mukuru Wanderers who made it into the quarterfinals last week.
Football Association of Malawi is yet to come up with a date and venue for the round-of-32 match between FCB Nyasa Big Bullets and Soche Socials whose winner will face Civil Service United in the round-of-16.
