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Three top league teams kicked out

 

The world of sport has always been fascinated by feel-good stories of an underdog defying the odds to defeat the odds-on favourite.

Silver Strikers Reserves yesterday wrote their own cinderella tale when they booted out Super League side Epac FC from the Carlsberg Cup with a deserved 3-1 victory.

Nomads raids Max Bullets' goal
Nomads raids Max Bullets’ goal

Silver Reserves coach Kingsly Saizi on Monday prophesied that his team would cause an upset and it came to pass. He proved that his bold declaration was not mere fantasy and in the end, his Epac counterpart Abbas Makawa, played it down at his own peril as he left Silver Stadium with his head hung in disappointment.

Silver Reserves, who play in the third-tier Chipiku Central Region Football Association (CRFA) Division One, were not the only side to cause an upset as fellow CRFA Premier Division side Support Battalion also booted out Super League rookies Mzuni 3-2 on post-match penalties after settling for a goalless draw in regulation time.

Ndirande Icons, who play in the Southern Region Football Association (SRFA) league, kicked out another Super League side Airborne Rangers 4-3 also on post-match penalties after settling for a barren draw.

Silver Reserves started strongly, scoring as early as the 11th minute through Noxy Phiri, making their intentions of progressing in the tournament clear.

But Epac reorganised themselves and levelled the scores four minutes before recess through winger Gerald Nkungula.

Silver Reserves engaged an extra gear in the second-half, scoring two quick goals to deflate Epac. Henry Kanyama made it 2-1 just three minutes after recess and barely a few minutes later, it was all over for Epac as Masuzgo Phiri made it 3-1 after connecting home a Vincent Weluzani’s well-curled cross.

It was game over for Epac as Reserves controlled pace.

“We had a perfect game plan and that was to attack fast using the wings. We exhausted them. Now we have to plan against Big Bullets,” said Silver Reserves coach Lyton Mangani in a post -match brief.

Abbas Makawa for Epac blamed the loss on complacency on the part of his players.

At Kalulu Stadium in Nchalo, the blue side of town breathed a sigh of relief when Mighty Be Forward Wanderers recovered from back-to-back league losses to Silver Strikers and Big Bullets, to edge a strong-willed Max Bullets 2-1.

Isaac Kaliyati drew first blood for the Nomads in the 10th minute when he swung upfield to beautifully plant home a Mike Kaziputa corner kick.

Mapopa Kaunda made it 2-0 three minutes before half-time after being strategically put through by matchmaker Rafiq Mussa.

In the second-half, Bullets played with renewed purpose, often forcing the Nomads into rearguard action.

They hit one back through Chiyembekezo Harry in the very last minute, but it was too little too late.

In other games, Dedza Young Soccer Stars beat Karonga United 2-0, Kamuzu Barracks saw off fellow soldiers Changalume by the same margin. 

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