By Taonga Sabola
FCB Nyasa Big Bullets set one foot into the 2023 Airtel Top 8 Cup semifinals after beating Civil Service United 2-0 in a match played at Civo Stadium in Lilongwe.
Maxwell Gasten Phodo and Hassan Kajoke carried the day with a goal in each half to give the People’s Team a two-goal advantage going into the second leg.
The match had a tight first half with both teams failing to string passes together.
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Civo had the first real chance of the game with Dan Kumwenda sending a shot over the bar after Innocent Tanganyika’s spadework.
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Bullets also had their moments in the match through Stanley Billiat and Precious Phiri, who were a delight to watch on the wings.
Phodo broke the deadlock with a half volley into the left corner of Civil’s goal in the 33rd minute after Civil failed to clear Anthony Mfune’s effort.
The ball landed perfectly for Phodo, who smashed it into the net through a forest of defenders.
Bullets breathed new life into the match by bringing in Kajoke for Billiat.
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Civil were also determined to make the most out of the second half but lacked the cutting edge.
Seasoned striker Binwell Katinji came close to equalising but his glancing header only succeeded in kissing the crossbar before going out.
Phodo nearly got a brace but ended up missing a big chance after exchanging passes with Mfune.
As the game progressed, Phiri handled the ball on the edge of the box but from the resultant set-piece, Civil hit a human wall.
Kajoke then made it 2-0 for Bullets with a low shot from inside the penalty box, connecting a MacFarlane Mgwira long ball.
Towards the end of the match, Bullets rested Mfune, Chawanangwa Gumbo, Mgwira and Phodo for Kenneth Pasuwa, Ephraim Kondowe, Frank Willard and Peter Banda.
There were some nervous moments for Bullets supporters in the dying minutes of the match when defender Collins Okumu nearly scored an own goal after misclearing a cross, with the ball bouncing over the bar.
