Mighty Mukuru Wanderers kept their hopes of finishing the season with a silverware on the boil yesterday after a 5-0 thumping of Bangwe All Stars in the quarter-finals at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.
The Nomads will now face giant killers Panthers FC of Area 49 in Lilongwe in the semis, who added Civil Service United to their growing list of casualties with yet another 2-4 penalty shootout victory at Civo Stadium in Lilongwe.
At Kamuzu Stadium, striker Clement Nyondo was the centrepiece of Wanderers’ victory after claiming a hat-trick.
He fired a warning shot of his intentions barely a minute into the match when his attempt was denied by the post with the visitors’ goaltender Ephraim Mphande out of position to the relief of the Bangwe’s camp.
But not for so long.
Nyondo drew first blood in the fifth minute with a simple tap-in after rounding off ‘keeper Mphande.
After a single goal lead at half-time, the Nomads were on the rampage in the second stanza. They doubled their lead through Misheck Botomani in the 57th minute who connected home a cross from Stanley Sanudi.
Nyondo was back in the picture to claim his brace and the Nomads’ third in 72nd minute, connecting home a Cameroonian forward Thierry Sama’s through ball before claiming a hat-trick and Nomads’ fourth goal from the spot six minutes later.
The penalty was awarded after Nyondo himself was fouled in the box.
Sama closed the score sheet for the Nomads in the 85th minute.
At Civo Stadium, the Lilongwe-based Chipiku Stores Central region Premier Division second-tier side Panthers showed their hosts the exit door on penalties after a barren draw in regulation time.
The Civil Servants were Panthers’ fourth victim on the trot after booting out last year’s losing finalists and newly-crowned TNM Super League champions Silver Strikers, Mafco FC and Chitipa United in that order, all othrough penalties.
In another quarter-final match, Mzuzu City Hammers booted out Karonga United 3-1 on post-match penalties after playing out a goalless draw in regulation time.
In a Round of 16 encounter at Mzuzu Stadium, holders FCB Nyasa Bullets overcame non-league side Hilltop’s strong resistance with a 1-0 win through striker Ephraim Kondowe’s 45th minute strike.
Bullets will face second-tier league side MMF Marine in the quarter-finals and the winner will meet Mzuzu Hammers in the semis.
