Holders FCB Nyasa Bullets have stormed into the FDH Bank Cup final after demolishing Dedza Dynamos Salima Sugar 5-1 at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.
What promised to be a highly contested for semi-final ended up being a one sided affair more especially in the second half as Bullets confirmed their second consecutive final where they will meet Mafco, with a record five goals from Collins Okumu, Hassan Kajoke, Anthony Nfune brace and MacFarlane Mgwira while Dedza got their consolation through Gift Magola.
There were all telltale signs that it would rain goals in this semi-final as Kenyan defender Okumu opened the floodgates as early as second minute, heading past Donnex Mwakasinga from Patrick Mwaungulu set piece.
Credit should go to Dedza who showed some signs of resistance as they managed to keep Bullets at bay for the first half to end 1-0.
Though Dedza continued to frustrate Bullets’ search for a second goal, the visitors ended up conceding four goals in the last 25 minutes of the second stanza.
Kajoke doubled the defending champions’ lead in the 65th minute with a brilliant diving header, connecting a Gomezgani Chirwa cross after he was played in by Chawanangwa Gumbo.
Four minutes later it was 3-0, this time Anthony Nfune on the scorers list after another defence splitting pass from Mwaungulu.
Nfune then completed a brace in the 73rd minute, this time he tapped in from close range, from a rebound after Dedza goalkeeper Mwakasinga saved the initial shot from Kajoke.
Dedza then got the consolation in the 85th minute from Magola, who wrestled the ball from Okumu and fired pasted Bullets goalkeeper Rabson Chiyenda.
Though it was clear that Dedza was not capable of pulling an upset going into added on time, Bullets were not satisfied.
They added a fifth one through substitute Mgwira who capitalised on Mwakasinga’s poor delivery to wrap up the day.
Bullets coach Kallisto Pasuwa was all smiles as his side booked a place in the final with a convincing victory.
He said: “A very good game. We did our home work. We struggled in the first-half. But when we played as a team in the second-half, we got those goals.”
Dedza coach Gilbert Chirwa said unlike in the league match when they held Bullets to a two-all draw, this time they did not come to the party.
“May be we lost concentration because we conceded those three goals in many be in six minutes.
“We did do well in the midfield and defence. We were overrun. We were so flat in the midfield as well as upfront.
“I think the speed that Bullets used gave us a lot of problems. “