After slaying four Super League teams, giant killers Leyman Panthers finally ran out of their Castel beer stock to bow out of the K400 million Castel Challenge Cup at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.
The Premier Division side was hoping to continue with its fairy-tale in the competition yesterday but met a hungry Mighty Mukuru Wanderers side which advanced to the final with a 3-0 drubbing of the Panthers.
Wanderers will meet either rivals FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Football Club or Mzuzu City Hammers.
The two sides meet in the other semifinal match at Kamuzu Stadium tomorrow.
Castel Cup is the only opportunity for Wanderers to win silverware this season after finishing second in TNM Super League and missing out on the FDH Bank Cup and Airtel Top 8 prize money.
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The Nomads knew Panthers were a tough nut to crack as the second-tier side is known for containing top sides in regulation time before slaughtering them during post-match penalties.
Four Super League sides—Mafco (round of 64), Silver Strikers (round of 32), Chitipa United (round of 16) and Civil Service United (quarterfinal)—all bear witness that Panthers are difficult to beat in 90 minutes and very difficult on post-match penalties.
Wanderers had decent chances in the first half through Francisco Madinga, Lawrence Chaziya and Isaac Kaliati, to no avail.
In the first half, Panthers goalkeeper Precious Masamba made some saves while the team’s attacking machinery of John Malidadi Jnr and Arnold Masamba did not tick.
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Nyondo finally beat Masamba when he connected a cross from Emmanuel Nyirenda to put the Nomads in the lead in the 57th minute.
Despite taking the lead, Wanderers interim coach Bob Mpinganjira pulled out Wisdom Mpinganjira and Misheck Botomani for Gaddie Chirwa and Sama Thierry Tanjong, respectively.
Blessings Singini doubled Wanderers’ lead in the 68th minute with a shot after a Panthers’ defender cleared a Sama goal-bound shot into the midfielder’s path.
With two minutes to full time, Chirwa sealed Wanderers’ victory.
