FDH Bank Cup holders FCB Nyasa Big Bullets earned Blantyre city bragging rights after beating cross-town rivals Mighty Mukuru Wanderers 2- 1 in Round of 16 at Kamuzu Stadium on Sunday.

The victory propelled Bullets to the quarterfinals of the FDH Bank Cup and they will face Capital City side Civil Service United, who eliminated Mighty Tigers 5-4 on post-match penalties  last week.

Nigerian striker Babatunde Adepoju scored a first half brace as Bullets kept their FDH Bank Cup title defence dream alive.

Substitute Cameroonian striker Sama Thierry Tangong scored the consolation for Wanderers later in the game.

Babatunde, formerly of Wanderers, haunted his former side as early as first minute of the match after his initial shot was deflected into the net before colliding with goalkeeper Dalitso Khungwa.

Babatunde completed his brace in the 26th minute with his right foot after a back heel pass from fellow striker Maxwell Gasten Phodo.

Thereafter, Wanderers tried  to reorganize themselves especially  in the second half but it was too late as the damage had already been done.

With four minutes to full time, Tanjong pulled a goal back for Wanderers to set up a tense finish.  Bullets held on for the victory as they marched on into the last eight.

Wanderers coach Meke Mwase was disappointed with the result.

“We did not play the way we wanted. We failed to mark properly and we did not create enough scoring opportunities. It is very fortunate and worrisome that we are also out of the competition,” said Mwase.

Since the tournament was introduced in 2021, Wanderers have never won it.

Bullets coach Kalisto Pasuwa said  the win against Wanderers could be the turning point for his side.

“This is not the Bullets we know, we got two goals and sat too deep.  I think, the win can make the boys raise up their heads. Every time, we lose the game, the dressing room was like we were on a funeral.

“No advantage for us in the coming rounds because if Silver Strikers can be booted out by Eagles, it means we can be booted out by any team we play against, so it needs us to prepare well to go to the next round,” said Pasuwa.

In another Round of 16 match on Sunday, Karonga United advanced to the quarterfinals following 10-9 victory over Premier Bet Dedza Dynamos on post-match penalties after goal-less stalemate in regulation time.

On Saturday MAFCO beat Iponga 1-0 at Karonga Stadium.

Meanwhile, the draw for the quarterfinals and semifinals took place at Kamuzu Stadium at half time of the Blantyre derby.

Bullets will meet Civil in the quarterfinals while Baka City will face Blue Eagles at the same stage.

In another quarter-final,  Lube Masters will meet Moyale Barracks while Karonga will face Mafco.

In the semi-finals, the winner between Baka and Eagles will meet either Mafco or Karonga while winner of the tie between Bullets and Civil will either face Moyale or Lube

Bullets have won the competition twice in three years since 2021. They won it in 2022 and 2023  while Silver were inaugural winners.