Silver Strikers bowed out of the 2024 FDH Bank Cup on Sunday after going down 5-3 in post match penalties against Blue Eagles FC at Nankhaka Stadium. The round of 32 tie ended goalless in regulation time.
Innocent Shema’s spot kick was the difference that propelled the Area 30 side to the round of 16.
It was a match that lacked the spark from the first whistle for the Central Bankers as the first half ended with the Area 47 side not registering a shot on target.
This forced Head Coach Peter Mponda to make a change 19 minutes into the match as he took out Tatenda M’balaka for Uchizi Vunga. At recess, the head coach made three more changes bringing in Stanie Davie, Chinsinsi Maonga and Duncan Nyoni while resting Paul Kansungwi, Christopher Gototo and Zebron Kalima.
Come second half, the changes brought in a positive rhythm as the team started piling pressure to the hosts for a goal.
58 minutes into the match Duncan Nyoni missed the target by an inch when his effort went over the bar after McDonald Lameck had set him up from a freekick.
Captain Chikondi Kamanga was substituted at 65 minutes bringing in Patrick Macheso. The Bankers continued to pile pressure but a goal was still not in sight.
After regulation time, the game went straight to penalties where the hosts scored all their spot kicks only for Joshua Waka to save Shema’s kick after Chimwemwe Idana, Maxwell Paipi and Nickson Mwase had converted their spot kicks.
Speaking after the match, the gaffer said his side did not start the match well saying his side only started playing well in the second half.
“Our play today wasn’t convincing as the performance of the first half was below expectations. Come second half we returned a changed side which played very well, we created chances but failed to convert them. The game went to penalties, we missed our penalty and lost the match. We will return and continue working on our game as we move on from this match”, Mponda said.
Attention returns to Super League action as the league leaders face Kamuzu Barracks on Sunday at Civo Stadium in Lilongwe.
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