Dedza pulls shocker in Malawi Standard Bank Cup opener

The 2015 Standard Bank Knock-Out Cup edition’s surprise package- Dedza Young Soccer (DYS) pulled a shocker on Wednesday, September 9, 2015 when they knocked down favourites Kamuzu Barracks (KB) after beating the soldiers 12(10)-11(9) in post-match penalties in a preliminary match played before a sizeable crowd at Civo Stadium in Lilongwe.

The former bed fellows were meeting for the first time since KB divorced Dedza by switching their base from Dedza Stadium to Civo and it were the visiting Young Soccer, fondly called Ma Young by their followers who proved supremacy by completing a double over the soldiers, having also beaten them during the TNM Super League first round in Dedza.

The visitors drew first blood after 17 minutes as Fletcher Bandawe’s free kick from 35 yards out beat KB goalkeeper Victor Nangwale.

The soldiers were level six minutes later- courtesy of a close range finish by Manase Chieya. The goal came when Dedza had been briefly reduced to 10-men as their captain and last man Chisomo Mpachika was treatment outside the pitch.

Weld Nkuliwa shot the soldiers ahead on 68 minutes after breaking through on Dedza’s left flank but the lead was short-lived as a handball by defender Pilirani Makupe earned the visitors a penalty. From the spot Amadu Makawa sent Nangwale the wrong foot to level the scores.

With the two sides tied at two-all after regulation time, the match went straight into the dreaded shoot-outs, which saw the first five penalty takers from either side converting their spot-kicks.

That had to call for the sudden-death kicks, during which Dedza goalkeeper Carlington Misomali saved KB’s 10th penalty kick taken by his fellow goal-minder Nangwale.

Dedza went on to convert their 10th penalty kick to sail through to the quarterfinals, where they will face Civo United.

“The players have sent a message to all the fans, who voted us into the competition. This is a big thank you to them and we will now start focusing on the next stage,” said an excited Young Soccer coach Milias Pofera Jegwe after the game.

KB’s assistant coach Kenwood Nkhoma wondered why his goalkeeper had to take a penalty, when there was an on-field player remaining before goalkeepers were summoned to take their penalty kicks.

“I don’t know why he stepped in before the player but we cannot start pointing fingers because penalties are unpredictable,” said Nkhoma.

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