BB through to carlsberg finals
Big Bullets on Saturday extended their extraordinary sequence of results this season when they earned a resounding 3-0 Carlsberg Cup semi-final triumph over Silver Strikers at Kamuzu Stadium to make their fourth entry into the finals.
Bullets have not lost a game within 90 minutes in all competitions this soccer season and they kept the legacy alive through goals from Jaffalie Chande, Divason Mlozi and Chiukepo Msowoya to dampen the Bankers’ hopes of making it into the finals for the first time since the competition started in 2000.
It was a painful experience for the Bankers who have now suffered a biggest defeat by Bullets in years.
They dominated the first-half and had a good number of attacks at Bullets’ goal, but a sloppy striking force let them down.
Bullets got their first goal as early as the 12th minute when Chande planted home an easy strike following a goal-mouth scramble to rest the game at 1-0 by half-time break.
The second-half started with Bullets leading on ball possession and incisive attacks that forced Silver defenders into rough defensive tactics. However, the referee could not afford to continue being lenient on the Bankers’ defenders. In the 63rd minute, Bullets won a free-kick which was well taken by Jeresi Lufeyo for Mlozi to make it 2-0 through a glancing header.
A minute later, Bullets found a third goal through a penalty by Msowoya. This happened after Silver goalkeeper Blessings Kameza pulled Msowoya’s leg in the box.
From that moment, Silver, who were without their suspended captain Lucky Malata and relied on inexperienced defenders Mike Robert and Mike Ntonyo on the defensive line, seemed to have accepted defeat and played the ball casually.
“This was a good game. I feel happy that my last game as Bullets head coach has ended in a resounding victory,” said Nsanzurwimo Ramadan, who is now employed as Flames assistant coach.
But it was all gloom for Silver mentor Stain Chirwa: “We wasted more scoring chances. This is a painful loss.”
Bullets will now keep their fingers crossed and wait for today’s winners of the second semi-final between Mighty Be Forward Wanderers and Moyale Barracks at Civo Stadium.
