By McLloyd Kudzingo
Nyasa Big Bullets won the Blantyre derby in the _Ibongetse_ Castel Cup semifinals by beating Mighty Mukuru Wanderers 4-2 on post match penalties on Sunday, to reach the final.
The game that took place at Kamuzu Stadium, was a must win for Wanderers having lost out on TNM Super League, FDH Bank Cup and the Airtel Top 8.
On the other hand, Bullets have been eyeing for a quadruple this season having won the TNM Super League and the FDH Bank Cup and they are in the finals of the Airtel Top 8.
Come to Sunday’s game, Wanderers looked more determined to atleast finish the year with a trophy as they played well than their rivals especially in the second half.
The Nomads had their first chance in the fourth minute when Wisdom Mpinganjira’s shot was saved by Bullets goalkeeper Rabson Chiyenda.
Two minutes later, Bullets almost took the lead through Patrick Mwaungulu whose free-kick was fumbled by Wanderers goalkeeper, Williams Thole.
Mwaungulu came again in the 15th minute with a powerful shot outside the penalty box but Thole saved it for a corner-kick injuring his shoulder in the process.
Bullets continued to press for a goal and Maxwell Phodo came closer to scoring in the 17th minute but Lawrence Chaziya and Peter Cholopi made it possible to deny the former Blue Eagles player a goal.
Vincent Nyangulu had his first chance to put Wanderers ahead in the 22nd minute after receiving a beautiful cross from Gaddie Chirwa but the ball was cleared for a corner-kick by Chiyenda.
Mwaungulu then block the deadlock in the 30th minute after receiving a pass from Phodo and released what looked like a weak shot but took a deflection, beating Thole in goals for the Nomads.
Just four minutes before half time, Wanderers coach Mark Harrison made a triple substitution, bringing in the fresh legs of Fransisco Madinga, Vitumbiko Kumwenda and Christopher Kumwembe for Misheck Botomani, Mphatso Kamanga and Vincent Nyangulu.
The introduction of the trio proved fruitful as the Nomads nearly leveled the scores in the added time of the first half through Kumwenda but Chiyenda made it possible to deny him the much needed goal.
The second half saw the Nomads continuing from where they stopped in the first half as Kumwembe leveled the scores just a minute in the second half with a beautiful bicycle-kick leaving Rabson Chiyenda hands akimbo.
Bullets’ first substitution came in the 62nd minute when Richard Chimbamba replaced the injured Rabson Chiyenda in goals while Ephraim Kondowe replaced Maxwell Phodo.
Bullets’ coach Kalisto Pasuwa also substituted Lanjesi Nkhoma and Stanley Billiati for the experienced legs of MacFarlane Ngwira and Hassan Kajoke in the 69th minute.
The Nomads on the other hand introduced Francis Mkonda for Balikihno Mwakayongo.
Wanderers looked more angry for a winner in the dying minutes of the second half, putting Bullets under siege by exchanging beautiful passes and creating more scoring opportunities.
The Lali-Lubani boys however, failed to get the winner as it ended 1-all between the two sides forcing the match into sudden death.
Bullets scored their spot kicks through Yamikani Fodya, Hassan Kajoke, Clyde Senaji and Precious Phiri beating the experienced goalkeeper Richard Chipuwa who had just been introduced into the game in readiness for the penalties.
The Nomads scored their spot kicks through Peter Cholopi and substitute Francis Mkonda while Captain Stanley Sanudi and Vitumbiko Kumwenda missed their spot kicks.
Following the win, the People’s team will now face capital city giants Silver Strikers who reached the finals after beating Bangwe All Stars 2-nil on Saturday.
The winner of this year’s Castel Cup will receive K50 million while the runners-up will get K25 million.
Mighty Mukuru Wanderers and Bangwe All Stars will walk away with MK10 million each for reaching the semifinals while four quarter-finalists will get K5 million each.
