Rachael Kaphaizi
Karonga United 1-2 FCB Nyasa Big Bullets
FCB Nyasa Big Bullets have made their fifth consecutive Airtel Top 8 final after hammering Karonga United 2-1 in the semifinal match at Bingu National Stadium on Saturday night.
They are the only side keeping that record in Airtel history books as the first side to reach fifth consecutive finals in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and this year.
The defending champions have won the trophy three times, in 2021, 2023 and 2024, if they win it this year, they will break another record to be the first team to win the trophy for the fourth time.
Despite their victory last night, the match showed some brilliant displays from the losing side, Karonga, who created a number of scoring chances but failed to convert them.
They could break the whole Bullets defence but failed to beat goalkeeper Richard Chimbamba. Trice Patrick Phiri failed to tap the ball home as Pilirani Thulu, Allen Chihana and Alfred Chizinga had chances but failed.
Karonga managed to break apart Bullets’ midfield in both halves forcing coach Peter Mponda to take out Frank Willard and for Chawanangwa Gumbo in order to stabilise the engine room.
However, the defending champions unleashed their passion and scored first on 26 minutes through Chikumbutso Salima whose clinical finish from Peter Banda’s pinpoint free kick header went straight into the net leaving Karonga’s defence stunned.
The hosts responded well, refusing to back down and it was Robert Luhanga who levelled the matters connecting home a loose ball on 52 minutes from a Patrick Phiri’s free kick.
When others thought the match would be decided through penalty shootouts, Hassan Kajoke who had not much to show came in restoring Bullets’ lead at 64 minutes courtesy of Chawanangwa Gumbo’s precise pass reignited the lead and took the people’s team into finals.
Mponda said was not happy with the performance but happy to have progressed.
“I am very happy with the result but not happy with how we played today, defensively we were very shaky, we gave a room to Karonga,” said Mponda.
Karonga’s coach, Oscar Kaunda thanked his players for a better performance while congratulating Bullets saying they deserved to win.
“I have to thank my boys for a good performance, all in all they are still young, I think they are coming up, the other games they will do better,” he said.
Blessings Mpokera’s massive performance earned him the man of the match award. He had three crucial clearances at the back.
Lineups:
Karonga:
Maclean Mwale, Pilirani Thulu (C), Nangie Songa, Allen Chihana, Casto Kayuni, Innocent Chitete, Patrick Phiri, Alfred Chizinga, Lovemore Ngolombe, Cloude Mkoko, Saulos Moyo.
Bullets:
Richard Chimbamba, Lloyd Aaron (C), Blessings Joseph, Blessings, Mpokera, Frank Willard, Peter Banda, Hassan Kajoke, Chikumbutso Salima, Babatunde Adepoju, Andrew Jovinala, Henry Chiwaya.
