Silver Strikers Ladies knocked champions Ascent Academy out of the 2024 Goshen-Fam Women’s National Championship following a 4-2 victory on post-match penalties at Mpira Stadium in Blantyre Thursday.
The victory means Silver Ladies will face Kukoma Ntopwa Women Saturday.
Ntopwa advanced to the final following a 4- 0 thumping of Topik Sisters in a late kickoff at the same venue.
It was sweet revenge for Silver Ladies after they lost 2-0 to Ascent at the same stage last year, when they met at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe.
This is a statement of intent from Silver Ladies as they remain the only unbeaten team in this competition, so far.
But it was not a stroll in the pack for the Central Bankers Ladies, formerly known as DD Sunshine, as they needed penalty shootouts to reach the last four.
The match ended goal-less in regulation time.
Ascent had a chance to win the match in regulation time when they were awarded a penalty after Silver Ladies’ captain Ruth Nyirongo was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box but Faith Chimzimu saw her penalty kick saved.
In post-match penalties, Gladys Banda, Chisomo Banda, Ireen Nkhumalo and Eluby Bottoman scored their penalty kicks for Silver Ladies.
Ascent’s Maggie Chavula and Victoria Mkwala missed their spot kicks.
Maureen Kenneth and Mayamiko converted theirs into goals.
Silver Ladies Coach Andrew Chikhosi said he was pleased with his team’s performance.
“We showed our quality against a good team. We have to plan well for the final,” Chikhosi said.
On his part, Ascent Coach Thom Mkolongo admitted that it was a bad day at the office.
“We did everything to win the match but penalties are lotteries. We accept defeat and move on,” Mkolongo said.
In a late kickoff, Ntopwa cruised to their second final in three years with a resounding 4-0 victory over Topik Sisters.
Kondawo Banda scored a hattrick for Ntopwa whereas Mary Chindeya netted the other goal.
Ascent and Topik will meet in a third-place play-off in an early kickoff Saturday.
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