FCB Nyasa Big Bullets cruise to Round of 16 with 4-0 win
FCB Nyasa Big Bullets cruised 4-0 past Ndirande Stars.
Blantyre, Malawi — FCB Nyasa Big Bullets cruised to a 4-0 victory over Ndirande Stars on Wednesday, June 21, 2023, at Kamuzu Stadium, writes Happy Valirani.
The resounding victory secured the Bullets' spot in the round of 16 in this year's "Pachema" FDH Bank Cup.
Ndirande Stars, a team from the Southern Region Football Association League of Thumbs Up, showcased stability under the leadership of their captain, Kingsley Benson.
The Ndirande squad displayed an impressive interchange of passes in the first 10 minutes of the match but lacked the finishing touch to convert their chances into goals.
Capitalising on their opponents' weaknesses, the Bullets took the lead in the 14th minute. Patrick Mwawungulu capitalised on a rebound from Thomson Magombo's shot that struck the post, easily slotting the ball into the net to put the Bullets in front.
Ndirande Stars lost control of the game after conceding the goal, leaving their defence vulnerable.
The Bullets took advantage of the situation, increasing their lead to 2-0 in the 29th minute when Maxwell Gasten Phodo capitalised on a goalkeeper fumble to find the back of the net.
Hassan Kajoke then found the mark twice in quick succession, scoring in the 33rd and 36th minutes, respectively, bringing the scoreline to an emphatic 4-0 in favour of the Bullets at halftime.
As the second half kicked off, Ndirande Stars showed determination and launched a spirited comeback attempt, pushing for a goal to reduce the deficit.
However, Clever Mkungulu, the goalkeeper for the Bullets, proved equal to the task, thwarting Ndirande's efforts.
With fresh legs introduced by Ndirande Stars, courtesy of Stuart Kalima, the team displayed renewed energy in the second half.
Kalima's presence unlocked the Bullets' defence on multiple occasions, but Ndirande was unable to find the back of the net.
The revitalised midfield and defence prevented the Bullets from extending their lead further.
After the match, Calisto Pasuwa, the coach for FCB Nyasa Big Bullets, expressed his delight with the victory, saying, "We wanted the win, and the boys have just done it. We have won the game 4-0, and we are through to the round of 16. Although we faced some setbacks, we will go back to the drawing board. The good thing is that we have advanced to the next round."
In contrast, Ndirande Stars' head coach, Simeon Kapuza, attributed the loss to the mistakes made by his team.
He admitted, "We made mistakes, and our opponents capitalised on them, scoring four goals. We lost concentration in all departments, which is why we were punished. We will regroup and analyse our performance. We still have more games to play."