Don’t be offended neighbor! That was the phrase that Nyasa Big Bullets fans carried through as forward Babatunde Adepoju scored all goals against his former team Mighty Wanderers for Bullets to win 4 -1 and reach the finals of the Airtel Top 8 Cup in a match played at Kamuzu Stadium.
Bullets were coming from a 1 nil derby league defeat to Wanderers and all that mattered was not just to reach the final of this competition and perhaps clinch a revenge which the Nigerian forward cemented.
Usual midfield battles between the sides kept mesmerizing the crowds with Alfred Manyozo Jnr, squaring tightly against inform Chimwemwe Idana.
Wanderers were first to attack after just eight minutes as Stanley Sanudi, having beaten Nickson Nyasulu into sprinting saw his shot wide with goalkeeper Ernest Kakhobwe having no troubles at all.
After an intense play, Bullets led just seven minutes away from the hour mark through a penalty taken by Adepoju as referee Alfred Chilinda handed Bullets a penalty following a handball by captain Manyozo Jnr.
It now meant that Wanderers has a little more than fifteen minutes to pull level but they kept firing blanks with Francis Mkonda twice missing target after being set up by an ever sprinting Yamikani Chester.
Forward Vincent Nyangulu brought Wanderers back into the game after he headed home a Ted Sumani corner kick for the sides to be at one all until halftime.
In the second half, every side was anticipating to show more intent and Bullets were the early birds again. This time, the lead was restored as Adepoju powerfully headed in a cross from Lanjesi Nkhoma 51 minutes into the match.
Seven minutes later, both sides made changes. Bullets Coach Kalisto took in Bright Munthali for a rather drained looking Paul Kansungwi while Wisdom Mpinganjira and Felix Zulu replaced Ted Sumani and Aubrey Maloya.
Moments later, an unmarked Nyangulu failed to chip in a deflected Mpinganjira free kick sending the Nomads supporters into total disbelief.
As Wanderers kept pushing for an equalizer, their former attacker came into the fold again with a header ten minutes later as Adepoju yet again with a header scored for his maiden Bullets hattrick.
In the 76th minute, Adepoju rounded off William Thole in goals for Wanderers to score into an empty net for the match to be placed at un imaginable margin.
With the four goal, the Nigerian who was named Man of the Match now put his goalscoring tally at eight in the competition cementing the feat and becoming the first player in history to score four goals in the Blantyre derby.
Now, Bullets will play the winner between Civil and Silver Strikers, sides that square off in a Capital City derby.
LINE UPS
Nyasa Big Bullets: Ernest Kakhobwe, Chimwemwe Idana, Sankhani Mkandawire, Nickson Nyasulu, Gomezgani Mkandawire, Alick Lungu, Henery Kabichi, Paul Kansungwi (Bright Munthali ), Misheck Seleman (Yamikani Fodya ), Babatunde Adepoju (Chiukepo Msowoya), Lanjesi Nkhoma(Precious Phiri ).
Mighty Wanderers: William Thole, Alfred Manyozo, Peter Cholopi, Sherrif Yinusa Stanley Sanudi, Ted Sumani (Wisdom Mpinganjira), Francis Mkonda (Misheck Botomani ), Yamikani Chester, Francis Mlimbika, Aubrey Maloya (Felix Zulu ), Vincent Nyangulu.