Wa Ganyu
There’s a sombre mood at the pastor’s residence—a football funeral of sorts. His Joseph Kamwendo-led Creck Football Team side met their natural death at Nankhaka Stadium, falling to FCB Nyasa Big Bullets in the Airtel Top 8 showdown.
A decisive header from Maxwell Phodo was all Bullets needed to edge past Creck Sporting Club with a 1-0 victory in the Airtel Top 8 quarter final second leg on Saturday afternoon in Lilongwe.
After a goalless stalemate in the first leg at Kamuzu Stadium two weeks ago, Bullets coach Peter Mponda set his side up to dominate possession, attack with intent, and find the back of the net.
However, they had to be patient. For the first 28 minutes, Creck and the unpredictable Nankhaka pitch frustrated Bullets, disrupting their trademark pass-and-move rhythm.
Coming off a 7-0 demolition of league newcomers Songwe Border United in the TNM Super League last weekend, goals had seemed inevitable for Bullets. Just prior to that, they had also humbled Creck with a 4-1 rout, adding to expectations.
But this was no walk in the park. The match started flat, with neither team registering a shot on target in the opening 20 minutes.
Creck came closest in the 15th minute when George Chaomba executed a brilliant turn inside the box, only for goalkeeper Richard Chimbamba to rush out and block before he could fire.
At 28 minutes, Bullets got their relief. Henry Chiwaya, having received a pass from Lloyd Aaron whipped in a brilliant cross from the left flank, catching defenders Miracle Gabeya and Talandira Chigaula off duty.
Maxwell Phodo rose to meet the cross with a spectacular header that left goalkeeper Brighton Munthali rooted, as the ball sailed into the back of the net for a 1-0 lead—enough to send Bullets through to the semi-finals.
They will face either Silver Strikers or Moyale Barracks.
The loss means the tough start by Kamwendo continues at Creck Sporting. He has so far only earned a point in three games in the league and now booted out of the Top 8.
In the other semifinal fixture, Moyale Barracks will look to capitalize on home ground advantage as they aim to overturn a 1-0 first-leg defeat against Silver Strikers for a semifinal berth.
