Eagles, Hammers sail through the Round of 16 of the FDH Bank Cup

By Antony Isaiah Jr…..

Blue Eagles and Ekwendeni Hammers have become the lastest teams to book their slots in the Round of 16 after beating Red Lions and Airborne Rangers respectively on Tuesday afternoon.

Eagles Assistant Coach, Christopher Sibale said teams should not underrate them this season because they also want to win cups by the end of the 2023 football edition.

Sibale was speaking during the post-match interviews after his team left it late to snap a 2-1 win over Red Lions on Tuesday at Nankhaka Stadium.

Blue Eagles’s 2022 FDH Bank Edition ended in a disappointing way as they were stunned by FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Reserve 2-1 at Kamuzu Stadium but Sibale says this season they don’t want to face the last season’s nightmare.

“As we have started, we are there. They should not underrate us because we also want cups,” said Sibale.

Blue Eagles started the game on a high note having tested the goalkeeper three times within the first five minutes through Christopher Gototo, Micium Mhone and Richard Rabson but Nenani Juwaya was equally alert to deny them access to the goals.

Red Lions who seemed to be struggling were restricted to play in their won half but against the run of play, they were the first team to draw the first blood.

Blue Eagles’ defence got paralysed after failing to clear the ball that was swung inside from the right flank where Innocent Makalani was operating.

Sankhani Mkandawire and his team were caught napping and Humphreys Minandi tapped it in to give the Red the lead after 35 minutes.

Soon after the recess, Eagles were on it and they were pilling pressure wave after wave. Juwaya was forced to make a brilliant save by Gototo. Sankhani Mkandawire started the move from the back bursting forward before releasing Rabson on the left and the winger just swung in the ball but Gototo’s connection was unbelievably palmed away.

Micium Mhone who was on fire found the way through the right flank and he displayed James Mwetse on the grass before sending the ball in and Paul Master pounced on it but his headers went just marginally wide.

Tonic Viyuyu had his first touch into the net. Kananji made tripple substitutions as he hooked off Micium Mhone, Shumacker Kuwali and Christopher Gototo for Laurent Banda, Tonic Viyuyu and Lanken Mwale.

Richard Rabson whipped in the corner that was well tapped in by Viyuyu just a minute from his introduction. Eagles brought the game back to where it started. Red Lions players had to protest for a foul on their goalkeeper but the referes’ decision stood.

The Zomba based Soldiers minutes later appealed for a penalty after goalkeeper, Brighton Munthali collided with Fegurson Mtondo but Mercy Kayira said nothing happened.

With both coaches preparing for penalties but the game was ended in regulation time. Lanken Mwale missed a glorious opportunity with just few minutes before the end of the game.

Munthali paved way for John Soko while Red Lions brought in Andrew Biyo for Humphreys Minandi.

Sankhani took the responsibility with his brilliant header. Rabson whipped in the corner and Mkandawire rose higher to head home the winner in the added minutes and help eagles to go through the next round of the FDH Bank Cup.

“We didn’t start well and we were trailing in the first half but after changing by bringing in some other new blood we found an equaliser.

“It’s always tough when we are playing our fellow military teams, so we are just happy that it has gone according to the way we planned,” said Sibale.

Elsewhere, in Dedza, Blessings Singini once again hogged headlines as he showed his masterclasses to power Ekwendeni Hammers to the next round of the FDH Bank Cup.

Singini scored a brace while Isaac Msiska scored a goal as Hammers battered Rangers 3-1 with Madalitso Chisale scoring a consolation goal for the home side.