FCB Nyasa Big Bullets ensured they would appear in back-to-back Castel Challenge Cup semifinals following a comfortable 3-1 win over MMF Marines at Dedza Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
A strike each from Lloyd Aaron, Wongani Lungu, and Alick Lungu helped us maintain a 100 per cent winning record in the competition with ten victories since its launch last season.
However, the victory came at a cost as Alick Lungu was stretchered off after suffering an injury towards the end of the match.
What happened
Up against another premier division side, The People’s Team faced another tough assignment on the road against a resilient side that hoped to upset the tables against the defending champions.
The visitors dominated a frantic start to the opening half and had a chance in the 11th minute through Maxwell Phodo, who saw his effort swerving across the goal line before going out as no Bullets player was quick to pounce.
In the 15th minute, Wongani Lungu exchanged passes with Precious Phiri, but Montfort Khamula blocked his goal-bound effort.
Our pursuit of a goal finally paid off in the 19th minute when Wongani set Aaron, who took down two opposition players before unleashing a thunderous shot outside the penalty box to beat Yes Nyirenda to his right-hand post, 0-1.
Kalisto Pasuwa’s men almost doubled our lead in the 24th minute, however, Phiri was unfortunate when his powerful header from Chikumbutso Salima’s well-taken corner kick missed the upright with an inch.
As Bullets kept pressing, the hosts were under intense pressure, forcing Kenwood Nkhoma to introduce Isaac Kondowe for William Gama in the 25th minute.
Bullets should have made things worse for the home side in the 35th minute through Alick’s freekick that almost went in, but Nyirenda was equal to the task with a brilliant save.
Marines had their first opportunity in the 40th minute when Nickson Nyasulu blocked a goal-bound strike from Chimwemwe Kashoti to concede the first corner kick, which Richard Chimbamba handled well.
Bullets had to contend with the home side’s frantic search for a goal late in the opening half until the 42nd minute when Wongani doubled our lead.
Aaron turned from a scorer to a provider when he set our number 19 for the second goal. The midfielder spotted Nyirenda out of his line and fired from the edge of the area to the far post to double the advantage, 0-2.
The two-goal deficit, along with time running out in the opening half, put Bullets in the driving seat ahead of the second half.
But, soon after the half-time whistle, there was a heavy downpour that led to the delay of the second half.
The two teams had to wait for 40 minutes to resume the final half, and when they did, it was an entertaining half coupled with tempers that almost ruined the beautiful game.
51 minutes into the game, Bullets had a chance to increase the tally and put the game beyond Marines’ reach, but Salima hit the crossbar from a freekick outside the penalty box.
The pitch was waterlogged, forcing Bullets to play long balls and probably avoid a repeat of what happened when we gave away a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 against Civil Service United under similar circumstances.
The Marines pulled one back in the 53rd minute. Alick fouled Innocent Kondowe to the left side. Ian Sumani stepped up to deliver a dangerous cross that landed favourably at Alex Mbewe, who pounced from close range, 1-2.
This meant one thing; an encaustic end to the match, but at the same time, a nervous 40 minutes for Pasuwa’s men to either defend their slender lead or restore the two-goal cushion.
Indeed, Bullets did what was necessary in the 62nd minute in brilliant fashion. Aaron was fouled closer to the centre cycle and Alick was given the mantle to take charge of the freekick and the wingback released a powerful strike, beating Nyirenda into the far corner of the net, 1-3.
The third goal was all that Bullets needed to ease the pressure from the hosts, who were not giving up and posed more of a threat when attacking from the right flank.
Pasuwa brought in Stanley Billiat and Babatunde Adepoju for Phodo and Ephraim Kondowe in the 67th minute to try to manage the game.
Marines were gifted the opportunity to reduce the arrears in the 70th minute through yet another set piece, but the delivery from Sumani was very poor.
This preceded a relatively quiet period, especially for Bullets, who were now losing possession to the opponents, forcing Pasuwa to replace Aaron and Wongani for Ernest Petro and Yankho Singo in the 77th minute.
The hosts were winning more set pieces in dangerous areas, and they almost scored again in the 79th minute, but Chimbamba made a double save to keep us in the driving seat.
Bullets suffered a setback in the 84th minute when Lungu was injured by Khamula, and he was replaced by Kenneth Pasuwa.
Things went from bad to worse for Bullets in the 86th minute when Frank Willard was sent off following a foul on Saad Wasie.
Despite playing with a one-man down, Bullets held on to secure an important win away in Dedza to set up a semifinal showdown against Mzuzu City Hammers at Kamuzu Stadium on Tuesday afternoon.
Aaron was named Player of the Match.
