For the third time in a row, FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Reserves have booked themselves a ticket to the Aubrey Dimba Trophy final following their 5-4 penalty shootout victory over Namitete Zitha FC on Sunday afternoon at the Dimba Stadium.
Gift Lamowa netted a beauty early in the second half before the hosts made it 1-1 a few moments later through Mathews Hamunza before the fiercely contested match was brought to shootouts.
With the hard-fought win today, our youngsters are set to face Kawinga FC in the final on 5 November at the same venue.
What happened
Quite tamed, we started the opening half as the hosts looked to be the liveliest side going forward and making frightening attempts at opening the scoring in the early stages of the semi-final.
As the game unfolded it was all about professional football from both sides who did quite well preventing each other from creating clear chances.
The narrative of the opening half would remain without either team putting a foot ahead of the other as it ended goalless.
Come the second half, our youngsters were off to a dream start as we put ourselves in front five minutes after the restart and did so in a decorated team move.
A crisp exchange of passes between Lyton Chinong’one and Gift Jossam curved the resilient Namitete defence open before Chrispin Mapemba nicely put the ball on the plate for Gift Lamowa to guide it into the back of the net to make it 1-0 from inside the penalty area.
Our lead could only last for a little while as the hosts won a penalty thirteen minutes later and through their number 9, Hamunza, levelled things up from the spot, making it 1-1.
With both sides trying as much as possible to decide the semi-final during normal time, the tie became open-ended with both sides surviving late threats until the final whistle was blown to bring about the shootouts.
After being lauded for scoring the equalizer for his side during the normal time, Hamunza turned from hero to zero as he missed his penalty kick before our defender Mussah Bwanali scored the winning spot kick for us to progress to the final of the competition.
What it means
The success of our youngsters in the Aubrey Dimba Trophy is now becoming a monopoly. With Sunday’s semi-final victory, the young Maule have now reached the biggest stage of the competition for the third time in a row.
Awaiting them in the final is the Lilongwe-based side, Kawinga FC, who will be hoping to challenge our 14-game unbeaten run in the central region.
Having beaten them in the semi-final, Namitete Zitha will also stand in our path later this month in the round of 16 of the Champions Cup in Mponela.
Enos Chatama post Namitete Zitha
“The boys played well, especially in the second half. First half we failed to tick but in the second half, we created a lot of chances, missed some and scored one good goal. Our opponents scored as well but we encouraged them to never lose hope. It was a difficult match but we managed to win.”
Next
This successful central region outing will be followed up by a date with Zingwangwa FC in the Nyasa Capital Finance Cup at the Mpira Stadium.
Starting line-up
Austin Chirambo, Happy Mphepo, Mussah Bwanali, Gift Jossam, Raphick Bahati, Andrew Lameck, Francis Malikebu, Lyton Chinong’one, Wongani Kaponya, Chrispin Mapemba, Gift Lamowa.
Used sub
Oscar Petro.
