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Nomads, KB through

 

Be Forward Wanderers and Kamuzu Barracks (KB) yesterday set up a semi-final tie in Fisd Challenge Cup following their quarter-final victories.

Wanderers condemned minnows Zolozolo United from Mzuzu to an 8-0 thrashing at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre while KB narrowly beat another lower league side Nsanama FC from Machinga 1-0 at Civo Stadium in Lilongwe. Silver Strikers and Blue Eagles will meet in the other last-four encounter.

At Kamuzu Stadium, Wanderers hit five quick goals in the first half and three in the final segment to impress their Japanese sponsors, who watched the match from the VIP stand.

Peter Wadabwa planted in five goals whereas Joseph Kamwendo, Mike Kaziputa and Jabulani Linje struck once each.

Wadabwa being congratulated by Nomads fans after the game
Wadabwa being congratulated by Nomads fans after the game

“We are delighted with this comfortable win. We were able to create and convert the numerous scoring chances into goals. However, we will not sit on our laurels as we prepare for the semi-finals,” said Wanderers coach Yasin Osman.

On his part, Zolozolo assistant coach Victor Mphande attributed his team’s defeat to poor coordination and lack of killer instinct in their striking force.

Wadabwa drew first blood in the ninth minute when he scored on the rebound after Zolozolo goalkeeper Griffin Jere fumbled a Francis Mlimbika’s long-range shot from the left flank.

Kamwendo scored the second for Wanderers in the 15th minute. He slotted into an empty net from 30 metres after Jere, who had gone inside to help his defenders, failed to make a quick return to his post.

Wadabwa added his second goal of the match and Wanderers’ third in the 25th minute with a simple tap-in before Jabulani Linje made it 4-0 a minute later. Mike Kaziputa made it 5-0 with 15 minutes to half-time after connecting home Stanley Sanudi’s well curved cross.

At the start of the second half, Nomads rested Kamwendo, Louis Minjale and goalkeeper Vales Kamzele for Japanese midfielder Genk Nakamura, Nigerian striker Amos Bello and Cameroonian goalkeeper Etoga Noah Hamza.

Wadabwa earned a hat-trick and made it 6-0 for Nomads in the 70th minute. He had a simple tap-in from a rebound. But it took only five minutes for Wadabwa to make it 7-0  with a long-range drive before resting the game at 8-0 with a header in the 77th minute—heading home Bello’s cross.

Zolozolo had a chance to get at least two consolation goals from  the spot-kick but they failed to score. In the 76th minute, Smith Kadawati shot wide. They won another penalty six minutes later but Overton Ngulube had his spot-kick saved by Hamza.

At Civo Stadium, KB relied on Harvey Nkacha’s 86th minute goal to book their semi-finals ticket and set up a tie against Wanderers.

Nsanama played with their lungs out; they pushed the ball around with ease much to the pleasure of the handful spectators.

But the hosts showed that experience matters when Nkacha rose high to bury a corner-kick ,beating goalkeeper Ibra Billy who made some brilliant saves earlier on.

Nsanama coach Bright Amin said he was dissapointed that they did not win the match which they dominated entirely. n

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