Nyasa Big Bullets issued their Airtel top 8 Cup defense ambitions with a convincing 7 nil thrashing of Karonga United in the competition’s quarterfinal first leg played today at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.
It was a match that brought together Bullets a side that finished on first position in the top tier league and Karonga who finished eighth as this year the format involved the teams from the first-round standings.
Banking on the home support, the Calisto Pasuwa side were first on the ball as after just twelve minutes the team led following a cheekily taken goal by Anthony Mfune who scored against his former team.
Mfune was too pacey as he sprinted past the Karonga defence before slotting past Lloyd Munthali, in goals for the visitors.
With a little few chances, the visitors sole hope lied in an effort that was sprung by former Ntopwa FC forward Josiah Duwa whose deflected shot was all but parried by a towering Clever Nkungula, a keeper whose exploits earned him a national call up in the year by Flames coach Mario Marinica.
On a very windy afternoon, the home side kept on attacking from all cylinders and dividend would be paid just at the stroke of the half hour mark when Lanjesi Nkhoma came out so quickly to tap in home a well taken cross by Gomegzani Chirwa.
Nkhoma initially appeared to be in an offside position only for Eric Atsiga manning the defence for Karonga could not believe he left a man behind.
With just a minute left before recess Nkhoma was yet again on the score sheet. This time capitalizing on a defensive blunder before he rounded off Atsiga while Nangie Songa was in contention against Patrick Mwaungulu.
In the second half, the visitors evidently had formational changes letting Duwa and forward Sheriff Shamama giving a tall order to Hajji Wali, the last man before Nkungula who was on high alert.
But the onslaught only continued in the second half when substitutes Babatunde Adepoju, Stanley Billiat, Henry Kabichi and Precious Phiri all scored in a space of twenty minutes to create a long-lasting memory in this fixture.
Karonga Coach Christopher Nyambose in a post match interview was quick to concede defeat and admitted that his charges did not give Bullets the deserved challenge as planned.
“Well, as you might’ve seen, we gave them too much respect and room to play around. The second leg is going to be a tough match because we have lost comprehensively but we will utilize our home ground advantage next week,” he said.
His counterpart, Pasuwa said it was a good response after the side recorded a first loss in the top flight falling to a 1 nil defeat to Mafco at Dedza stadium days ago.
“We needed to respond to an unusual situation we felt in the league. Obviously, the return leg will not be an easy match because this is one of the team’s that gives us problems,” he said.
This is the biggest result in the history of the competition with Bullets’ 4-1 win over Mighty Mukuru Wanderers in the semifinals last year being the highest scoring match heading into the fifth edition.
Fans will be heading to the terraces in the next twenty-four hours as Mighty Mukuru Wanderers host Mafco in the quarterfinals.
This year’s winners will pocket K17 million from the K78 million sponsorship whereas the runners-up will get K6 million.
Silver Strikers are record holders of the Airtel Top 8 Cup having won on two occasions on its inauguration in 2017 before reclaiming the title in 2019. They face Kamuzu Barracks this year at the start of the coemption.
In 2018, Blue Eagles who face Dedza Dynamos were the winners.
