Tigers oust Bankers in Carlsberg Cup Malawi: KB in semis
Silver Strikers’ 1-0 loss to Azam Tigers in Saturday’s Carlsberg Cup at Kamuzu Stadium showed the difference between fulfilling a fixture and playing with a mission as the bankers failed to justify why they needed a place in the quarter finals of the prestigious cup.
The result is by no means a reflection of the team’s abilities on the ball but rather of orientation.
Before the match, the bankers were determined to repair the damage done to their pride by the 5-2 loss to Red Lions seven days earlier, Tigers only played hoping for the best.
The Kau-Kau boys, however, successfully negotiated their their next round qualification to set up a meetingwith Big Bullets.
Tigers started promisingly with the leadership of Flames vastly experienced defender James Sangala, who tamed well Chawanangwa Kawonga completely out of the game.
With the help of massive ganyu supporters, Tigers smashed the first goal in the 19th minute when Peter Kasonga connected an easy goal after the ball slipped into bankers goalkeeper Blessings Kameza.
From then, the central bank side failed to launch any meaning attack towards the Kau-kau goal and their goalkeeper had some vacation for the most part of the game.
Bankers defenders, were submerged from the later part of the first half to the end of the match, allowing injured Frazer Menyani and Peter Kasonga penetrate without any problems.
On the centre defence, Lucky Malata also found Tigers strikers a handful as he seemed not sure of where to be and what to do when the Tigers were on the offensive.
Come second half, Tigers hardly panicked and coordinated better with some fluid football across and diagonally almost throughout the game and their aggression was only limited by goalkeeper Kameza.
In the midfield, Tigers dominated and were good at collecting the ball from the defence and sending up front.
Towards the end of the game, Tigers nearly increased the tally, but twice their strikers lacked confidence as they shot wide with only the goalkeeper to beat.
Tigers will now meet Big Bullets on Wednesday at Kamuzu Stadium, as the bankers join Blantyre United, Civo United, Karonga United, Moyale Barracks, Red Lions, Epac FC to the cemetery.
In the capital, Lilongwe defending champions Kamuzu Barracks (KB) kept their defence campaign alive following a 1-0 win over Epac FC to qualify for the semi-finals to meet Zomba United who ousted Support Battalion with a 2-1 win in Zomba on Friday.
Stevie Unyolo scored the loan goal of the match five minutes into the game.
On Sunday, Mighty Wanderers face Chikwawa United in a quarter-final qualifying match.
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