FCB Nyasa Bullets yesterday underscored their resoluteness in the 2025 TNM Super League campaign as they massacred Kamuzu Barracks (KB) 4-0 at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.
Midf i elders Mike Mkwate, Chikumbutso Salima and Wongani Lungu masterminded the slaughter of the solders as they each netted in the first-half before substitute Sean McBrams added the fourth in the second stanza.
The result means they have opened a six point gap with second-placed Mighty Wanderers who face Silver Strikers this afternoon at the same venue.
The Nomads, who have 12 points, have a chance to reduce the deficit to three points as they host the defending champions who are sixth with eighth points.
But for now, Bullets rule at the top after an ambush on the Lilongwe-based soldiers left them wondering what had hit them as they trailed 2-0 just 10 minutes into the match watched by a sizeable crowd despite the biting cold weather in the city.
KB goalkeeper Hastings Katoma Banda was wakened just three minutes into the match to deny Maxwell Gastin Phodo when a short corner from Chikumbutso Salima to Chawanangwa Gumbo resulted in a dangerous cross into the area.
But three minutes later a barrage of attack was just too much for Banda, who made three successive saves to deny Phodo, Babatunde Adepoju and Mike Mkwate before the midfielder tapped in the rebound.
Five minutes later, Bullets were at it again, this time midfielder Salima made it 2-0 in the 11th minute after heading in Phodo’s cross.
KB had an opportunity to intervene in the situation in the 30th minute, but striker Zeliat Nkhoma fired wide with just Bullets goalkeeper Innocent Nyasulu to beat.
Nkhoma missed yet another opportunity when he headed wide a Gregory Nachipo cross in the 33rd minute.
The soldiers paid the price for their sloppiness as Bullets scored the third from a counterattack led by Salima who dribbled past Michael Ntonyo before delivering a pin-point pass in the box for Wongani Lungu to fire home.
Though leading with three goals, Bullets did not relent in the second-half.
They continued pinning down KB who mostly survived because of their ‘keeper Banda’s quick reflexes.
In the 48th minute, Phodo’s long-range shot near the post met Banda’s outstretched hand for a corner.
He then made a double save to deny substitutes Henry Chiwaya and Ephraim Kondowe who came in for Mkwate and Babatunde.
But Banda could not tame substitute McBrams’ thunderous shot outside the box in the 75th minute to make it 4-0.
In a post-match interview, Bullets coach Peter Mponda said they planned to finish off KB in the first-half.
He said: “I am very happy with the result of the game as well as the performance, more especially in the first 45 minutes.
“We said let’s take the game to KB. They did that in the first 12 minutes. We were leading confidently.”
KB coach Nicholas Mhango was left speechless.
“We were poor in everything. The worst game,” he said.
