By McLloyd Kudzingo
Mafco FC reached the final of the Airtel Top 8 Cup after beating Silver Strikers 3-1 in a penalty shootout on Tuesday afternoon at Bingu National Stadium (BNS) in Lilongwe.
The match ended 1-all in regulation time with the central bankers taking the lead through Patrick Macheso but the Salima-based soldiers took the match into penalty shootout, thanks to a late goal by Prince Kachere.
Mafco had their first chance in the 16th minute when Peter Kasonga found Mphatso Philmon in the box but the latter failed to find the back of the net.
The central bankers got their clear cut chance in the 24th minute through Uchizi Vunga who was left with only the goalkeeper to beat but opted to pass the ball to Duncan Nyoni only to be intercepted by a Mafco defender.
Silver broke the deadlock in the 27th minute with Patrick Macheso’s beautiful finish after a beautiful exchange of passes with Chimwemwe Idana who was also voted man of the match.
Benard Chimaimba had a chance to level the scores in the 39th minute but his header was easily saved by Silver goalkeeper Pilirani Mapira.
Chimaimba then got another chance in the added minutes of the first half but again his deflected shot was fumbled by Mapira.
The second half saw Mafco becoming a changed side as they were able to make good passes and create a number of scoring opportunities.
The homes side on the hand tried their best to increase the lead but Mafco defense led by their captain Paul Ndhlovu and Christopher Mikuwa in goals made it possible to deny the likes of Duncan Nyoni, Zebron Kalima and Stain Davie.
Nyoni had a chance to score in the 52nd minute but his effort hit the wood work and later picked by Mikuwa.
Afew minutes later Idana would have made it 2-nil with a counterattack move but his shot hit side netting.
The soldiers also had a number of chances to equalise but their men upfront were not sharp enough to convert them into goals with Benard Chimaimba and Peter Kasonga among the culprits.
After missing a couple o chances, Mafco finally got the back of the net through Prince Kachere who scored with a simple tap-in after Silver defenders failed to clear a Mphatso Phillimon’s cross.
Silver had a goal disallowed for offside in the added time when Emmanuel Kaunga headed in from a free-kick well taken by substitute Mark Fodya.
During the shootout, Mafco FC scored through Peter Kasonga,Paul Ndhlovu and Aubrey Chafewa while Silver scored through Innocent Shema.
Silver’s Chisomo Mpachika, Chikondi Kamanga and Mark Fodya missed their spot kicks while Paul Phiri missed one for Mafco.
Mafco will now Face FCB Nyasa Big Bullets on 6th January 2025, a repeat of the FDH Cup final in which the People’s team thumped Mafco 3-0.
Bullets reached the finals after beating Blue Eagles FC 3-2.
Silver Strikers is the only team to have won the Airtel Top 8 twice and have been reaching the cup’s semifinals every season since it’s inception in 2017.
