Hammers Beat Raiply 4-1 to Reach Last 16 in Castel Challenge
The next round of the Castel Challenge Cup will feature another exciting fixture at Rumphi Stadium, as Ekwendeni United takes on Khuyu Cobras on Sunday.
Rumphi, Malawi - Ekwendeni Hammers secured their spot in the Last 16 of the Castel Challenge Cup with an impressive 4-1 victory over Raiply FC at Rumphi stadium on Saturday, writes Victor Musongole.
From the opening whistle, Raiply FC appeared to be struggling to find their footing in the game, allowing Ekwendeni Hammers to dictate the play with superior possession and several free-kick opportunities.
However, the Hammers initially found themselves blunt in front of the goal, with Samuel Adeyemi breaking the deadlock in the 14th minute after a precise assist from Brian Phiri.
Holding a slim one-goal advantage at halftime, the Hammers didn't take long to extend their lead in the second half.
Brian Phiri's expertly taken free-kick found the back of the net, leaving Raiply's goalkeeper, Khumbo Mtonga, with no chance to prevent it.
Samuel Adeyemi added another goal to his tally at the 68th minute, with substitute Chancy Kaonga netting the final goal just two minutes after entering the field in the 80th minute.
Raiply FC managed a consolation goal, courtesy of James Gwayi, who powered in a pass from his striking partner, Blessings Nyirenda, at the 84th minute. The match concluded with a resounding 4-1 victory in favour of Ekwendeni Hammers.
The game saw multiple Raiply players receive more than four yellow cards for foul play and language, reflecting a challenging match.
Ekwendeni Hammers' Luckson Nyoni described the game as an accurate representation of their performance, acknowledging that complacency in the first half had created difficulties for his players.
"It was a good game, as reflected by the goals, but we struggled in the first half due to complacency from my players. They took the game lightly, but I'm happy we have advanced. We will take every game as it comes," Nyoni stated.
On the other side, Jimmy Phiri, Raiply FC coach, admitted the defeat and mentioned that his players had struggled with confidence.
"We showed a lot of respect to Hammers, and that's why we struggled to play good football in the first half, especially in midfield. However, after a halftime talk, they improved. Unfortunately, it was too late, and we conceded again due to some silly mistakes. But we have learned valuable lessons; reaching this stage of the competition was no easy feat," Phiri said during a post-match interview.
Ekwendeni Hammers will now advance to the Last 16, where they will be joined by teams from the Central and Southern regions.
The next round of the Castel Challenge Cup will feature another exciting fixture at Rumphi Stadium, as Ekwendeni United takes on Khuyu Cobras on Sunday.