Defending champions Big Bullets on Sunday survived Mafco FC’s scare when they came from behind to force a one-all draw before emerging victors 7-6 through post-match penalties in a Carlsberg Cup quarter-final match at a packed Civo Stadium.
Following Bullets’ win, the semi-final line-up is now complete.
Bullets will face Silver Strikers who thumped Support Battalion 4-0 while Be Forward Wanderers date Moyale Barracks.
Wanderers saw-off Dedza Young Soccer 2-0 whereas Moyale also sailed through after beating Kamuzu Barracks (KB) 5-4 also through post-match penalties after a one-all draw.
Saidi Ntekema, Oswald Nkagula, Maurice Chiumia, Paul Phiri, Zasher Nong’oneza, Yohane Malunga converted the spotkicks for Mafco whereas Richard Mbulu, Martin Masoatheka and Hassan Chapola failed to score.
Pilirani Zonda, Mussa Manyenje, Dalitso Sailesi, Eneya Banda, Miracle Gabeya, Fisher Kondowe and Chiku Kanyenda scored Bullets’ penalty kicks while Jaffalie Chande and Bashir Maunde had their shots saved by Mafco goalkeeper Jailos Kapalamula.
Mafco took the lead through Maurice Chiumia in the 36th minute when he headed home a Zasher Mnong’oneza freekick.
However, Bullets came into the second half with renewed purpose and they levelled the score barely four minutes after recess through Chande.
The Salima-based soldiers controlled the better part of the proceedings and missed a plethora of chances and they paid dearly for that in the end when they had to bow out through the lottery shoot-out.
At Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre, goals from Luka Milanzi and Isaac Kaliyati propelled the Nomads to the semis while at Civo Stadium in Lilongwe, Victor Limbani, Green Harawa, Ian Banda and Peter Pindani were on target for the Bankers against Support Battalion.