FCB Nyasa Big Bullets defeated rivals Mighty Mukuru Wanderers 4-2 on post-match penalties today to win the Blantyre derby and advance to the finals of the inaugural Castel Cup in a highly billed match at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.
The penalties came when the sides played out to a pulsating 1 all draw until normal time.
Wanderers needed to win the game at Kamuzu Stadium because they had missed out on the TNM Super League, the FDH Bank Cup, and the Airtel Top 8.
However, the Bullets, who have already won the FDH Bank Cup and the TNM Super League, are aiming for a quadruple this season and are now in the Airtel Top 8 finals.
In the encounter on Sunday, the Wanderers outperformed their competitors, particularly in the second half, and were more determined to at least win a trophy at the end of the year.
The Nomads had their own. Rabson Chiyenda, the Bullets’ goalkeeper, saved Wisdom Mpinganjira’s shot in the fourth minute, giving the Nomads their first chance.
After two minutes,Bullets nearly started to lead the pack through Patrick Mwaungulu whose free-kick was bobbled by Drifters goalkeeper, Williams Thole.
Thole saved a powerful shot from Mwaungulu outside the penalty box in the 15th minute, injuring his shoulder in the process.
Shots kept on squeezing for an objective and Maxwell Phodo drew nearer to scoring in the seventeenth moment however Lawrence Chaziya and Peter Cholopi made it conceivable to deny the previous Blue Eagles player a goal.
Vincent Nyangulu had his most memorable opportunity to put Drifters ahead in the 22nd moment subsequent to getting a wonderful cross from Gaddie Chirwa yet the ball was cleared for a corner-kick by Chiyenda.
Mwaungulu then, at that point, block the gridlock in the 30th moment subsequent to getting a pass from Phodo and delivered what resembled a feeble shot however took a redirection, beating Thole in goals for the Nomads.
Only four minutes before half time, Wanderers mentor Mark Harrison made a triple replacement, getting the new legs of Fransisco Madinga, Vitumbiko Kumwenda and Christopher Kumwembe for Misheck Botomani, Mphatso Kamanga and Vincent Nyangulu.
The trio’s introduction paid off, as Kumwenda nearly brought the Nomads level in extra time of the first half, but Chiyenda prevented him from scoring the crucial goal.
The last part saw the Wanderers going on from where they halted in the principal half as Kumwembe evened out the scores one moment in the final part with a lovely bike kick leaving Rabson Chiyenda hands akimbo.
In the 62nd minute, Richard Chimbamba took the place of the injured Rabson Chiyenda in goal and Ephraim Kondowe took the place of Maxwell Phodo. This was the Bullets’ first substitution.
Bullets mentor Kalisto Pasuwa likewise subbed Lanjesi Nkhoma and Stanley Billiati for the accomplished legs of MacFarlane Ngwira and Hassan Kajoke in the 69th moment.
Wanderers then again presented Francis Mkonda for Balikihno Mwakayongo.
The Nomads looked more furious for a victor in the perishing minutes of the final part, putting Projectiles under attack by trading delightful passes and setting out seriously scoring open doors.
The Lali-Lubani side in any case, neglected to get the victor as it finished 1-all between the different sides constraining the match into unexpected demise.
Bullets scored their spot kicks through Yamikani Fodya, Hassan Kajoke, Clyde Senaji and Precious Phiri beating the accomplished goalkeeper Richard Chipuwa who had recently been brought into the game in status for the punishments.
Peter Cholopi and Francis Mkonda, a substitute, converted the Nomads’ spot kicks, while Captain Stanley Sanudi and Vitumbiko Kumwenda failed to convert.
Following the success, Bullets will face capital city giants Silver Strikers who arrived at the finals subsequent to beating Bangwe All Stars 2 nil on Saturday.
The prize money for this year’s Castel Cup is K50 million, with K25 million going to the runners-up.
The Nomads and Bangwe All Stars will leave with MK10 million each for arriving at the elimination rounds while four quarter-finalists will get K5 million each.
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