Silver lining
Silver Strikers yesterday overcame a fixture pile-up to beat Nyasa Big Bullets 2-0 to wing into the finals of the Fisd Challenge Cup at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe.
The Central Bankers, who playedthree crucial games within five days, including an international match, willnow face Be Forward Wanderers in the finals. The Nomads beat Moyale Barracks2-1 to book the final berth at the same venue on Saturday.
Gifted Ghanaian forward Mike Tetteh drew first blood in the 11th minute with a crisp header from a rebound which gave Bullets’ goalkeeper Rabson Chiyenda no chance.
Bullets nearly equalised a minute later when Righteous Banda’s grounder was fumbled by in-form Silver goaltender Brighton Munthali, but Bullets forward Bright ‘Bweke’ Munthali who was lurking nearby, failed to connect it home and relief was the prevalent emotion in the Central Bankers’ camp.
As the game progressed, Tetteh was taken off stage after getting a knock and was replaced by Mphatso Philiemon while Levison Maganizo made the way for Ronald Pangani.
Bullets too made changes, resting MacFarlane Ngwira for veteran winger Fischer Kondowe while Henry Kabichi replaced Nelson Kangunje as they sought to control the midfield.
And as Bullets were hoping to snatch a late equaliser and live to their ‘Bullets nkumadzulo’ syndrome, Khuda Muyaba delivered the coup de grace in the 77th minute from a penalty awarded after defender Miracle Gabeya had fouled a dangerously advancing Ronald Pangani from behind.
It was game over!
Still fresh from their CAF Champions League preliminary round exit through post-match penalties barely four days earlier, the final whistle left them downhearted as they trooped off the pitch with their heads hanged in disappointment.
A visibly dejected Bullets coach Callisto Pasuwa conceded defeat.
“It was a bad day in the office. We were second to the ball, we were second in everything. We had chances to win the game but unfortunately we did not use them,” he said.
“These are cup games in which you need to give your all. I can only say well done to the opposition, they deserved to win because they were better. You could see the eagerness,” he said.
His Silver counterpart said his team won because it had an ounce of luck.
“Bullets played well so did we, but the lucky team had to carry the day,” he said.
