FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Women have booked a pace in the semifinals of the FAM Women National Championship following a 4-0 victory over CY Sisters at the Mpira Stadium on Sunday to go top of Group A.
Our ladies’ team had no remorse in thrashing the Mzuzu visitors and were determined to score more in their quest to defend the title, having won their opening two games in the group with smaller margins.
The game began with strong attacks from both sides, and neither dared to give in to the other.
Tendai Sani found herself in the goal area twice in the first 10 minutes, unfortunately, the attacking midfielder had to watch her attempts flying over the crossbar.
Within the opening minutes, Maggie Chombo’s ladies had recorded six shots on target and three off the goalposts.
Bullets broke the deadlock in the 18th minute through Vanessa Chikupila, who beat the visiting goalkeeper Evelyn Kamanga with a magnificent finish from outside the penalty area.
The Sisters nearly responded immediately after conceding through their captain Chikondi Gondwe from a volley that almost caught Thoko Mwase off guard, but our goalkeeper did well to deny the visitors an equalizer.
Our early substitution breathed more life when Maggie Chombo replaced Linda Nyangu with Mary Chavinda in the 19th minute.
Chikupila grabbed her second goal of the afternoon two minutes before the half-hour mark when she converted from the spot after she was brought down in the area by Edina Monjeza.
Bullets Women were indeed on a roll as Sani finally succeeded and poked a powerful shot into the net inside the 18-yard area in the 33rd minute, setting her first score of the game and Maule ladies were leading 3-0 by the end of the opening period.
Chombo made her second substitution immediately after the break when she introduced Fauzah Muhammad for Asiyatu George.
The visitors could have reduced the deficit in the 50th minute through their captain who opened fire only to see her effort ferried over the crossbar.
CY Sisters was a rejuvenated side after the recess, dominating possession and earning them three chances in a space of eight minutes.
Jane Njeula had an opportunity to find the back of the net but her weak shot ended in the palms of Mwase, who also denied the visitors another chance from a straight corner in the 70th minute.
Our ladies enhanced their performance as both Pililani Malola and Chavinda had the ball into the net in the 76th and 77th minute, unfortunately, they were ruled out for offside.
Both sides made the final changes in the 83rd minute. Chombo replaced Chavinda for Anne Van Els and Mwase for Martha Banda, while Aaron Kamanga took out Njeula and Christina Phiri for Haleemah Mpambiche and Yamikani Mvula.
van Els nearly opened her account in the group stages when she was set by Chikupila, who dribbled past the opposing defenders before releasing her striking partner, sadly she was denied by the ‘keeper.
Sani was back for her brace when she struck the last nail at the stroke of 90 minutes to give Bullets a 4-0 triumph over the third-placed side.
Our ladies are currently top of the standings with nine points from three games and have scored seven goals. Lilongwe-based DD Sunshine come second with six points from three games and have scored six goals.
Chombo was delighted with the performance of her team.
“I am very proud of the girls; they have delivered exactly according to instructions. Despite the missed chances, they defended very well and they only made few mistakes, which we will fix when we go back to training,” she commented.
