Ekwendeni United's Resounding Victory Lands Them in Castel Challenge Cup Last 16
With this impressive victory, Ekwendeni United joins Ekwendeni Hammers in the Last 16 of the Castel Challenge Cup.
Rumphi, Malawi - Ekwendeni United delivered a stunning performance on Sunday, securing their spot in the Last 16 of the Castel Challenge Cup with an impressive 4-0 victory over Khuyu Cobras, a Likoma-based side, writes Victor Musongole.
This triumph marks Ekwendeni United as the second North region team to advance to the tournament's next stage.
Chisomo Chikafa was the star of the match, making a significant impact with three remarkable goals.
The action began with Chikafa heading home a corner kick from Brian Maulidi, providing Ekwendeni United with a lead a mere 18 minutes into the game.
He continued his stellar performance by netting a second goal at the 22-minute mark after skillfully evading the offside trap.
Khuyu Cobras' coach voiced his discontent with the officiating team's decision on the second goal, arguing it was offside.
This outburst cost him a red card, expelling him from the technical area. The first half concluded with Ekwendeni United leading 2-0.
Khuyu Cobras made valiant efforts to make a comeback in the game after regrouping during the half-time break.
However, their advances were thwarted by Ekwendeni United's steadfast defence.
Chikafa continued his goal-scoring spree, securing a remarkable hat-trick with a goal assisted by Michael Mhango.
The final blow came from Edward Mkandawire, who hammered in the fourth goal just three minutes later, courtesy of a creative assist from Jeff Zida Munthali.
During the match, Ekwendeni United conceded a penalty after their goalkeeper, Khwima Kita, kicked an opponent in an off-ball situation inside the penalty area.
Khuyu Cobras' Ikho Mkali took the penalty shot, but it was expertly saved, maintaining Ekwendeni United's clean sheet.
The match concluded with a decisive 4-0 scoreline in favour of Ekwendeni United.
Lukas Kalinga, the head coach of Ekwendeni United, lauded his team for their spirited performance, acknowledging the challenges posed by their opponents.
Kalinga stated, "It was a well-balanced game, and we consider ourselves fortunate to secure a win. Despite scoring four goals, our opponents performed admirably. We are prepared to face any team in the Last 16 and are committed to achieving more."
On the other side, Martin Mnkhwamba, coach of Khuyu Cobras, accepted the defeat while citing the role of fatigue in their performance.
"We acknowledge the loss, but it's worth noting that reaching this stage shows our progress. Fatigue played a part in our performance as we travelled from Likoma on Saturday night, arrived in Nkhatabay in the morning, and were on the pitch in the afternoon. Despite the challenges, we've learned valuable lessons," Phiri stated during a post-match interview.
With this impressive victory, Ekwendeni United joins Ekwendeni Hammers in the Last 16 of the Castel Challenge Cup.
Both teams will be vying for a chance to claim the tournament's top prize, which comes with a significant K1.5 million reward for the winners.