FCB Nyasa Big Bullets have cruised to the semifinals of the Airtel Top 8 on goal aggregate despite a 2-1 home defeat to Civil Service United at Kamuzu Stadium yesterday.
Bullets scored through Maxwell Phodo while Civo did the damage through Lloyd Aaron and Chifundo Ngapemba.
The People’s Team proceeded thanks to a 2-0 first leg victory they claimed over the civil servants in Lilongwe.
It was a deserved victory for Civil who have ended Bullets’ longtime unbeaten run at home, as the visitors put up a spirited performance.
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Bullets, who made several changes to their usual starting line up, scored the fastest goal of the competition when Phodo connected home a corner-kick from Eric Kaonga barely seconds into the game.
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The visitors equalised in the eighth minute when man of the match Aaron scored through a penalty after Bullets defender Collins Okumu fouled Innocent Tanganyika in the box.
Civil came hard thereafter as they defended and attacked in numbers giving the home side no breathing space.
Phodo missed a clear opportunity to restore the lead in the 38 minute when he fluffed the chance with the goalkeeper already beaten.
Civil continued being first on the ball as they took control of the midfield winning the battle over Bullets’ Blessings Mpokera, Frank Willard and Thomson Magombo.
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Ngapemba scored the winning goal when he headed from a difficult angle to send shock waves to the Bullets family.
The visitors continued pressing for a third which could have taken them to the semifinal on away goal rule but the home team defended in numbers to proceed to the semifinal.
Following a draw that was conducted at half time, Blue Eagles will meet Bullets while the winner of a disputed game between Silvers Strikers and Mighty Mukuru Wanderers will face Mafco.
After the game Bullets Coach Kallisto Pasuwa blamed it on his players’ fatigue.
“We are playing every three days and the players are now tired,” he said.
Civil Coach Abbas Makawa rued missed chances and conceding an early goal.
“We played well but we did not convert all our chances because we were not calm. However, I praise players for a gallant battle,” he said.
Meanwhile, the second leg between defending champions Wanderers and Silver was shifted to a later date due to the ongoing case after the holders appealed against the verdict over first leg fracas.
Mafco, who are waiting for the outcome to know their opponents, knocked out Kamuzu Barracks on an away goal-rule after 1-1 on aggregate whereas Eagles beat Moyale 4-3 on aggregate.
