By Durell Namasani
Defending champions FCB Nyasa Big Bullets and Blue Eagles cruised through to the next round of the FDH Cup following their victories of Bangwe All Stars and Silver Strikers respectively.
Patrick Mwaungulu and Chikumbutso Salima scored a brace with the other goal coming from Babatunde Adepoju as Bullets thumped Bangwe All Stars 5-nil while Blue Eagles beat Silver Strikers 5-3 on post match penalties at Nankhaka Stadium.
Patrick Mwaungulu scored the first goal for Bullets in the 52nd minute with a simple tap-in after receiving an assist from Chikumbutso Salima.
Mwaungulu then returned the favour as he assisted Salima to double the lead for the People’s team as the latter scored Bullets’ second in the 68th minute.
Salima completed his brace in the 83rd minute after receiving an excellent pass from Crispin Mapemba before Babatunde Adepoju ended his goal-scoring drought four minutes later with a simple tap in after an assist from Patrick Mwaungulu.
Mwaungulu then scored his second of the day and Bullets’ fifth goal to ensure that the People’s team cruise to the round of 16 with confidence.
In Lilongwe, It took penalty shootouts to separate second-tier league side Blue Eagles and TNM Super League leaders Silver Strikers who played out to a goalless draw in the regulation time.
Eagles secured their place in the round of 16 after beating Silver Strikers 5-3 on post-match penalties with Silver’s defender Innocent Shema having his spot-kick saved by goalkeeper Joshua Waka and Lanken Mwale scoring the winner for the Area 30 side.
The win means that Blue Eagles have become the second second -tier league side to progress to the 2024 FDH Bank Cup Round of 16 after Raiply FC who moved to the next round after beating Super League side, Chitipa United 5-4 on post-match penalties on Saturday.
