The second edition of the FAM National Women’s Championship final will have new faces with Ascent Academy and Ntopwa set to battle for the title following their respective victories in the Semifinals played on Saturday at Mpira Stadium.
Ascent Academy beat defending champions FCB Nyasa Big Bullets on post match penalties following a goalless draw in regulation time.
Ascent Academy converted all their five spot kicks through Maggie Chavula, Leticia Chinyamula, Maureen Kenneth, Faith Chinzimu and Rose Kabzere while Vanessa Chikupira, Pilirani Malora and Lyna James scored for Bullets whose Captain Emily Jossam missed her penalty to hand Ascent their victory.
The next semifinal involved Ntopwa and DD Sunshine and the hosts were quick to settle in the game with Memory Chidetsa and Shabel Bengo pressuring the visitors’ defence.
Chidetsa put Ntopwa’s in the lead 14 minutes into the match .
DD Sunshine had to wait for second half added time to come back into the game when they were awarded a penalty following a handball in the box.
Ireen Khumalo converted the penalty making it 1-all at full time and just like the first semifinal, penalty shootouts followed to decide the winner.
In the post-match penalties, Ntopwa’s Fanny Magombo, Kondawu Banda, Mary Chindeya, Memory Chidetsa and Shabel Bengo were all on target but FF Sunshine’s Linda Manda missed her penalty as Ireen Khumalo, Eluby Botoman and Mphatso Gondwe scored theirs making it 5-3 in favour of the hosts.
Nyasa Big Bullets Women will host DD Sunshine in the third place play-off .
Bullets defeated DD Sunshine 2-1 while Ascent and Ntopwa played to a 0ne-all draw in the group stages last month.
