By McLloyd Kudzingo
Nyasa Big Bullets began their title defence in the Airtel Top 8 Knockout Cup with a 7-0 win against Karonga United on Saturday at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.
Bullets took the lead just 12 minutes from kick-off through Anthony Mfune who scored against his former team with a simple tap in from Patrick Mwaungulu’s assist.
Lanjesi Nkhoma doubled Bullets’ lead in the 30th minute when he finished off Gomezgani Chirwa’s cross.
Nkhoma then came again with a beautiful strike to the roof of the net just 2 minutes before half time after capitalising on a defensive blunder by Karonga United.
Babatunde Adepoju who finished as the top goal scorer during last season’s Airtel Top 8 Cup, registered his name on the scoresheet in the 52nd minute with a beautiful tap in from Frank Willard’s assist.
Stanley Biliati scored the fifth goal for the People’s team with a cool finish after being set up by Babatunde Adepoju.
Substitute Henry Kabichi scored Bullets’ 6th goal with a thunderous shot outside the penalty box after another assist by Babatunde Adepoju.
Just when everybody thought the match was going to end at 6-nil, Precious Phiri had other thoughts as he scored just seconds before the end of the match following a well taken corner-kick by Patrick Mwaungulu.
The second leg of the match will take place in the next three weeks at Karonga Stadium where Karonga will need to score at least 8-goals to proceed to the semifinals.
On Sunday, another Blantyre giant Mighty Mukuru Wanderers will take on Mafco FC who are coming from a historical 1-0 win against Nyasa Big Bullets in the TNM Super League.
The final match of the Airtel Top 8 will be played on December 17, 2022 at a venue to be announced by the football governing body-FAM.
Silver Strikers are the most successful team in the competition having won the cup two times, seconded by Blue Eagles and Nyasa Big Bullets who have so far won it once.
