Lyton Chinong’one scored Nyasa Big Bullets Reserves’ winner in the 94th minute as the lower league side came from behind to sail past Blue Eagles 2-1 and reach the semifinals of this year’s FDH Cup in a match played at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre today.
Evidently, this is a match in which the young Bullets came as minnows as the Eagles are currently flying high in the top tier league but the variations of the game proved otherwise.
Fans had graced the terraces to watch how the two sides would play out with a lot at stake in this fixture.
Bullets Reserves were the underdogs going into this particular match against a side which is currently doing very well in the top-flight football.
There could be no goals in the opening twenty minutes with both sides failing to convert clear cut chances.
For once after 18 minutes, a well set Micium Mhone failed to connect into goal a pass from the left frank by Chifuniro Mpinganjira.
The home side could not believe how Emmanuel Savieli missed a minute later to score with Blue Eagles goal keeper John Soko already beaten. From his left foot, the ball could only hi the side netting.
Sensing danger, the visitors changed their formation right into the match, leaving captain Schumacker Kuwali as a force striker.
A goal then came for Eagles as Mhone and Mpinganjira linked up yet again after 35 minutes.
The winger Mpinganjira was all alert to slot past a towering Rahaman John in goals for Bullets after Mhone’s quickly taken free kick.
Bullets then banked on its support base to create more chance and the tussle between Chikumbutso Salima and former Nyasa Big Bullets (senior) team defender Sankhani Mkandawire.
The paces saw Mkandawire being stretched off and replaced by Raphick Bahati with just four minutes before recess.
In the second half, a charged Enos Chatama, coach for the home side made tactical changes and let Saviel play upfront along with Salima.
This would then pay dividends with just three minutes into the half as a sprinting Salima overpowered Maxwell Gustave in the left frank before sending a cross into the box where Wongani Kaponya did not make any mistakes at all but slot past an approaching Soko to settle the scores.
Kaponya was then substituted for Crispine Mapemba after 54 minutes when both sides longed for a goal to control the state of affairs.
The visitors would have led at the mark of an hour when Kuwali’s deflected shot was well saved by John.
In the opposite direction, Bullets kept contesting a decision by referee Mercy Mziya who ruled out Salima fall in the box for simulation instead of a penalty after the winger collided with Bahati.
As everyone, might have thought that penalties would be on show with six minutes added, the home side found the back of the net.
Chinong’one was just near the box when he was set up by Mologeni who was named Man of the Match, whose cross was not properly cleared by Andrew Lameck for him to beat Soko a few yards out subsequently standing as the match winner before the fans celebrated in disbelief.
A sense of disbelief even haunted the Lilongwe based side as even Soko did now have enough adrenaline to pick up the ball.
Moments, later, Mziya blew the final whistle for Bullets to now reach the semifinals and an end of the road for the Eagles.
The win now means that Bullets Reserves will face fellow non-league side Extreme FC who defeated Changalume Barracks 2-0 at Balaka Stadium.
