FCB Nyasa Big Bullets returned to winning ways as they beat Mighty Mukuru Wanderers 2-1 in the FDH Bank Cup round of 16, thanks to two first half goals by Babatunde Adepoju.
Fresh from a 2-1 defeat by Karonga United in the TNM Super League, the People’s team knew an early goal was needed to ease pressure on them and they got it just one minute into the first half as Adepoju tapped into the net a lovely ball from Chikumbutso Salima.
Mighty Mukuru Wanderers attempted to assume the majority of the possession but struggled in the final third to put the game level.
With Wanderers pushing forward for an equalizer, Bullets created a counter attack in the 26th minute through Chikumbutso Salima. The reserve graduate then fed Maxwell Gasten Phodo whose one time backheel pass found unmarked Adepoju to slot home the second.
Noting that his players were squandering numerous opportunities, nomads coach Meke Mwase decided to improve the attack by bringing in Thierry Sama Tajong and Wisdom Mpinganjira but Bullets defense stood firm and denied Wanderers a goal until recess.
The Blues continued to toil, pressing for an early goal in the second half but most they could summon were half chances as Tijong sought to take advantage of set pieces.
However, there was a stoppage in the 77th minute when Wanderers fans started throwing objects, in protest to referees decision to award FCB Nyasa Big Bullets goal kick when they thought it was supposed to be corner kick to their side.
Soon after the 10 minutes stoppage, the Nomads got their consolation goal in the 86th minute through Thierry Sama Tajong who connected home a cross from the left wing.
Kalisto Pasuwa’s reaction after the match
“The management came and met the boys yesterday and they motivated them and you could see the hunger from them to win but again it’s not the Bullets that we know, we scored two goals and then we sat deep to defend those two goals but again this is a cup game what we wanted is to go to the next round”
“I think this win can make the boys to raise their heads, and you could see every time when we were losing the games the dressing room has been sad”
“No advantage to win this cup, if Silver Strikers can be booted by Blue Eagles, the same can happen to us”
Meke Mwase remarks after the match
“I am not happy because of today’s result, we didn’t perform the way we wanted, we failed defensively in the first half and again scoring was another challenge”
“We wanted to give goalkeeper Dalitso Khungwa confidence, he kept two clean sheets in our last two outings that’s why he started today”
“It’s very unfortunate that our journey in the FDH Bank Cup has not been successful since it’s establishment and i am not happy about it”.
What the result means?
FCB Nyasa Big Bullets dominance over Mighty Mukuru Wanderers in cup games continues as they record their 6th win in 9 matches.
The People’s team will be looking to defend the title for the third successive season, having won the 2022 and 2023 editions.
The Kalisto Pasuwa’s men have won the competition twice, more than any other team in the country.
Today’s victory over Wanderers in FDH Bank Cup is their second, first was in 2022 when the People’s team claimed a 4-1 victory.
Today’s brace scorer, Babatunde Adepoju has now scored three FDH Bank Cup goals in two meetings against Mighty Mukuru Wanderers.
For the part of the Nomads, defeat today means their search for the first ever FDH Bank Cup trophy continues.
What’s next?
FCB Nyasa Big Bullets will host Civil Sporting Club in the quarter finals of the competition.
The Servants reached the last 8 stage after beating Mighty Tigers on post match penalties.
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