National Sports

Malawian quartet in SA cup mixed fortunes

There were mixed fortunes for four South Africa-based Malawian players in the Nedbank Cup on Saturday.

Gerald Phiri Jnr and Richard Mbulu’s Baroka FC winged into the semi-finals of the showpiece after edging Robert Ng’ambi’s Black Leopards 1-0 while Limbikani ‘Pupa’ Mzava’s Highlands Park were booted out by Mamelodi Sundowns with a similar margin.

Made up for his missed penalty: Phiri

Phiri, who was returning from an injury, missed a penalty for Baroka in the 77th minute when his spot-kick skimmed off the outside of the post.

The penalty was awarded after his compatriot Mbulu was fouled in the 18-yard box.

However, Phiri made up for it moments later when he started the move that led to Baroka’s winning goal.

He found Tshidiso Patjie with a pass that oozed class and the latter’s low cross from the right was stabbed into his own net by Leopards defender Joseph Douhadji.

In an interview yesterday, Phiri—a deadball specialist—said relief was a prevalent emotion when he was involved in setting up the winner.

“I was disappointed to miss the penalty, but thank God we came out triumphant in the end,” he said.

Mzava had a grand game in defence for Highlands Park against Sundowns, but substitute Makgalwa produced a moment of magic in the 115th minute, cutting past two defenders before curling a shot beyond ‘keeper Tapuwa Kapini’s left-hand for the lone goal.

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