Ten- man Silver Strikers advanced to the 2024 Airtel Top 8 final following a 1-0 victory over Mighty Mukuru Wanderers at Bingu National Stadium on Saturday night.
Silver will face either holders FCB Nyasa Big Bullets or Kamuzu Barracks in the final slated for next week at the same venue.
Bullets and KB will face each other in the second semi-final at the same venue on Sunday afternoon.
Binwell Katinji was hero for Silver when he scored the only goal of the match in the 8th minute.
Katinji, who was voted player of the match, beat Wanderers goalkeeper Richard Chipuwa with neat finish after he connected Chinsinsi Maonga cross.
However, Silver survived scare as Wanderers came a changed side in the second half. Wanderers were unable to find the break through as goalkeeper George Chikooka made timely saves.
Silver were reduced to ten men after defender Nickson Mwase was given a red card following a second yellow card after a foul on Wanderers’ Cameroonian striker Sama Tanjong with 14 minutes to play.
Wanderers failed to capitalise on Silver’s numerical disadvantage as the Central Bankers held on to their slight lead.
After the match, Silver coach Peter Mponda hailed the players for showing great character throughout the match.
” I am very happy with the result and the fighting spirit from the guys but not the performance. But we also had several chances but we failed to utilise them,” said Mponda.
Taking his turn, Wanderers coach Meke Mwase said his players were demoralised by the early goal.
“We played under pressure after we conceded the early goal. The players tried their best after we made some changes but we failed to get a goal,” said Mwase.
Silver will play in their fourth Airtel Top 8 final since 2017. They have won the competition twice in 2017 and 2019.
In 2017 final, Silver defeated Wanderers 10-9 on post-match penalties after goal-less in regulation time. They won their second Airtel Top 8 trophy after beating Karonga United 1-0 in 2019.
Apart from Silver, Bullets are the other team that have won the competition twice in 2021 and 2023.
Blue Eagles were crowned champions of the Airtel Top 8 in 2018 while Wanderers won it in 2022.
