By Isaac Salima:
FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Sunday booked their slot in the quarterfinals of FDH Bank Cup after eliminating their rivals Mighty Mukuru Wanderers 2-1 in the round-of-16 at Kamuzu Stadium.
Babatunde Adepoju was the hero of the day after scoring both goals for Bullets while substitute Sama ‘Thierry’ Tanjong Thierry Sama scored Wanderers’ consolation goal.
Bullets will now face Civil Service United in the quarterfinals following a draw that was conducted at half time of the game at Kamuzu Stadium.
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The result also means that the People’s Team are on course to defending the title they won last year.
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The Nomads are still looking forward to winning the cup after four years of asking.
The much fancied fixture on the land was back in Blantyre as the traditional rivals took to the country’s soccer Mecca to settle their scores.
Bullets, who have had an upper hand in cup competitions against Wanderers in recent times, went into the game as underdogs if their recent poor run of form was anything to go by.
However, the People’s Team pulled a shocker barely a minute into the game when Adepoju capitalised on Wanderers’ defending woes to take an early lead.
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Bullets made several changes to their line-up when they welcomed some faces who were on injury list such as defender Collins Mukuru and midfielder Frank Willard.
However, despite taking an early lead, Bullets struggled with possession as they lacked coordination and played second fiddle throughout.
The Nomads, who maintained the team that has been appearing in league assignments, looked determined and aggressive but were betrayed by their frontline.
Despite Wanderers bossing possession, it continued to be an afternoon full of surprises when, despite struggling, Bullets claimed a second goal in the 27th minute.
Adepoju was on target again when he capitalised on Wanderers’ defensive deficiencies to score his second goal.
Chikumbutso Salima supplied the ball to striker Maxwell Phodo, who controlled it for Adepoju to fire past Nomads goal custodian Dalitso Khungwa, who had a share for blame on the goal.
Wanderers coaching panel was forced to make an early substitution by pulling out the ineffective duo of Christopher Kumwembe and Clement Nyondo for Sama and Wisdom Mpinganjira.
Wanderers’ Peter Cholopi and Gaddie Chirwa had their attempts hitting the woodwork in the first half.
In the second half, Bullets continued struggling with possession as Yankho Singo and Willard in midfield defended deeply and lacked position discipline as they lost the midfield battle to their rivals.
Wanderers introduced Mphatso Kamanga and Francisco Madinga for Isaac Kaliati and Felix Zulu, who boasted the attacking machinery, but Bullets defended in numbers and refused to give in.
Sama gave false hopes to the Nomads family for a possible comeback into the game when he scored on the dot of 90 minutes after Bullets’ defence and goalkeeper were caught off guard.
The added 10 minutes was action packed as Bullets gave their all while Wanderers pressed in for an equaliser which never came.
The game was stopped for about eight minutes towards the end as some angry fans from the Wanderers’ stand threw objects onto the pitch in reaction to some decisions from the officiating personnel.
After the game, Wanderers Coach Meck Mwase said their team gave away some cheap goals.
“The players did not perform as we expected. We failed to defend well and our goalkeeping was not that up to standard. However our play was just fine, only that we were shy on goal,” Mwase said.
Bullets Coach Kalisto Pasuwa, whose team has been passing through turbulence, said the win is a morale booster.
“It was not the Bullets that we know but we still managed to score two goals, which we managed to defend. The win will motivate the team,” Pasuwa said.
In other quarterfinal matches, Mafco will face Karonga, who defeated Premier Bet Dedza Dynamos 10-9 on post-match penalties, while Baka City play Blue Eagles.
Lube Masters will line up against Moyale in the quarterfinals.
