FCB Nyasa Big Bullets broke the Malawian and Castel Challenge Cup record for the most goals scored in a single match as they routed Kumanda All Stars 22-1 in the Round-of-64 at Kamuzu Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The defending champions were the away side at the Soccer Mecca against the Blantyre Rural non-league side, and they made their experience count with 11 goals in each half.
At the final whistle, The People’s Team eased into the next stage of the competition with an emphatic victory, surpassing the previous record held by rivals Mighty Mukuru Wanderers, who hammered Katete Rangers 10-1 at the same stage of the competition last season.
Chawanangwa Gumbo found the back of the net eight times to lead the charge, with Precious Phiri bagging six goals and Stanley Billiat pitching four, while Chikumbutso Salima netted a brace, with Chitiyo and Kondowe scoring a goal each.
What happenedÂ
Kalisto Pasuwa made nine changes to the side that beat Mafco FC 1-0 in the TNM Super League last Sunday, handing starts to Richard Chimbamba, Nickson Nyasulu, Colin Mujuru, Kenneth Pasuwa, Ronald Chitiyo, Chawanangwa Gumbo, Frank Willard, Chikumbutso Salima, and Precious Phiri.
Two minutes into the match, Chitiyo headed past James Zozomela to put Bullets in the lead. He was found unmarked by a cross from Salima, 1-0.
That was the beginning of the hosts’ problems, as Bullets netted five more goals between the eighth and 12th minutes.
Salima turned from a provider to a scorer in the 8th minute. He rounded off two defenders before firing past Zozomela, 0-2.
A minute later, Gumbo was next to register his name on the scoresheet. The midfielder received an excellent pass from Salima in the 9th minute, 0-3.
Bullets made it four in the 14th minute. Salima was the architect of the goal with yet another excellent pass to Phiri, who made a simple tap-in to beat Zozomela, who could do nothing as the ball rolled into the net.
The Chileka-based side reduced the arrears in the 18th minute when Andrew Kaipa got the better of Mujuru in the area and volleyed past Chimbamba, 1-4.
The defending champions responded in the 20th minute through Gumbo, who doubled his tally when he received an excellent pass from Phiri inside the penalty area, 1-5.
Bullets were not yet done with their opponents as they kept pressing from all angles in search of more goals.
With 31 minutes played, Gumbo completed his first hat-trick when his powerful header beat Zozomela to the left bottom corner to make it 1-6 in favour of Bullets.
Our number 29 was the provider of the seventh goal when his brilliant pass found Phiri unmarked, and the winger wasted no time slotting the ball past the defenceless opposition goalkeeper.
Phiri completed his hat-trick in the 39th minute when he fired past Zozomela after he was found by Gumbo inside the penalty area to make it 1-8
Pasuwa’s men showed no signs of slowing down as Salima doubled his tally with an excellent connection in the 41st minute from Crispin Mapemba’s cross, 1-9.
Two more goals followed in the additional minutes from Gumbo. He scored our 10th goal in the first minute of stoppage time when he took advantage of a defensive mix-up to slot the ball past Zozomela before completing the riot in the opening half with a powerful strike to make it 1-11.
After the recess, Pasuwa brought in Billiat for Salima, who was feeling discomfort in his left leg. The opposition side also made a change as they withdrew goalkeeper Zozomela for Yohane Mponda. as
Just like the first half ended, the final half started the same way. Phiri welcomed the new ‘keeper with an excellent volley.
Five more goals followed between the 49th and 60th minute.
Billiat registered his name on the scoresheet with a brilliant goal four minutes after coming on after he received a good pass from Phiri to make it 1-13.
Phiri scored his fifth goal of the day when he made a simple tap-in from Gumbo’s pass.
The winner completed his job for the day with a goal in the 59th minute. He capitalised on a blunder from Mponda’s failure to handle a long bouncing ball from Billiat.
And in the 60th minute, Billiat doubled his tally with a simple finish from Chitiyo’s pass to make it 1-16.
After 61 minutes of action, Luwani Sichinga replaced Isaac Mbote for the hosts, while Sean McBrams, Ephraim Kondowe and Mathews Masamba came on for Phiri, Chitiyo and Pasuwa.
Billiat completed his hat trick in the 70th minute when he capitalised on another blunder by Mponda, who failed to handle a cross from McBrams, 1-17.
In the 71st minute, Bullets welcomed back Alick Lungu when he replaced Mapemba. The left-back was out of action for a year after sustaining an injury during our Airtel Top 8 semifinal tie against Blue Eagles at Bingu National Stadium.
Kondowe scored his goal in the 76th minute, connecting well from Billiat’s pass, making the scoreline 1-18.
And in the 78th minute, Billiat made it 19-1. The winger finished off a pass from Kondowe inside the penalty box.
Gumbo made it 20-1 in favour of Bullets with yet another simple finish. The midfielder scored another goal in the 85th minute, beating Mponda to his near post.
Gumbo completed his excellent scoring form in the 88th minute from the spot when Kondowe was brought down in the box. This was Bullets’ first spot-kick in the 2024 season, and after the final whistle, 22-1, it ended.
What it means
The victory means Bullets, looking to defend the Castel Challenge Cup, have booked a place in the competition’s Round-of-32 stage.
