For the third consecutive season, FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Reserves have successfully defended the Aubrey Dimba Trophy following their 5-4 victory over Kawinga FC on post-match penalties at the Dimba Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
In regular time, the two finalists failed to get better of each other as they played out a goalless draw.
What happened
Facing each other for the very first time, the two finalists presented an entertaining show in the ultimate showdown of the competition.
Chances fell for both sides but near misses kept the tie at deadlock as it rolled on.
After dribbling past the whole Kawinga defence with slick feet, Macray Chiwaya, who was playing his first game since suffering a recurring groin injury four weeks ago, agonizingly failed to beat the ‘keeper in a one-on-one situation.
Counter-attacking us, the Chipiku Central Region Football League outfit opened us up through the right byline but when they dispatched the ball into the penalty area, Rahim Ntondera missed miserably from a position that needed a simple tap-in.
Unable to cancel each other up until the first half finished, the two sides came into the second half with a renewed hunger to take the lead in the final by applying urgency in their play.
Nonetheless, play followed the sequence it took in the opening half as both teams did well to get into the final third but lacked what it takes to find the breakthrough.
There wasn’t going to be a late winner in the tie as the two finalists agreed to decide the final only through penalty shootouts.
Only one winner had to emerge as champions and by no chance Bullets Reserves once again proved to be the specialists in spot kicks.
Our youngsters scored all five kicks from the spot while Kawinga only registered four successful penalties, and 5-4 it finished.
While Austin Chirambo came out as the hero on the day for stopping Yassin Chida’s penalty kick, defender Mussah Bwanali received all the praise for scoring the winning kick.
What it means
Our youngsters, with Sunday’s big win, have now made the central region hosted competition completely theirs for being the only team to have their hands on it since its introduction three years ago.
With them well placed in three other competitions, Bullets Reserves have now initiated another chase for another quadruple which they remarkably accomplished last season.
What coach Enos Chatama said
“Quite a tough match. We have played in ten finals in three years, we have not won on penalty shootouts. This is the first time to win the title through penalty shootouts. All in all, the boys did a good job, they scored in all the penalty shots.”
Next
Following up for the 2023 Aubrey Dimba Trophy is their Champions Cup quarter-final showdown against the Northern region-based Baka City, who have just earned their first-ever promotion to the Super League of Malawi.
