t was with trepidation that Kamuzu Barracks (KB) coach Billy Phambala faced shootouts after his side conceded two goals in the second half to force the game into post-match penalties.
\nPhambala immediately retreated to the dressing room after regulation time\u2014probably dreading the worst. But fate was on his side and he ended up rushing back into the pitch to celebrate his team\u2019s victory over a resilient and tough Masters Security.
\nIt was not a stroll in the park for the soldiers as they were cornered by the \u2018security guards\u2019 towards the end of the game played at Civo Stadium in Lilongwe.
\nKB finally booked a Fisd Challenge Cup final berth after a 5-4 victory over Masters and they await the winner between Nyasa Big Bullets and Moyale Barracks who face off at the same venue today.
\nIt was the soldiers\u2019 second consecutive Fisd Challenge Cup final appearance since the competition was introduced last year.
\nAfter the two teams played out a 2-2 draw in regulation time, the game was decided through penalty shoot outs.
\nManase Chiyesa kept his cool to score the decisive kick after Wyson Nkhana blasted his over the bar.
\nMustafa Salimu, Kelvin Hanganda, World Nkuliwa and Pempho Kamsichiri earlier scored for KB whereas Tsanzo Dalio, Richard Chande, Gerald Nkungula netted for Masters.
\nMasters goalkeeper Bester Phiri saved Vincent Mphepo\u2019s spotkick whereas KB\u2019s shot-stopper, Lemani Nthala, saved Eneya Banda\u2019s penalty.
\nIn open play, KB took the lead in the first half through Dan Ziba who headed in from close range after Masters defenders were caught napping.
\nMasters should blame themselves for failing to grab the opener after dominating in the early stages of the game.
\nThe two teams went for recess with KB leading 1-0. In the second half, KB increased the lead through Manase Chiyesa who beautifully beat Phiri midway the second half.
\nMasters fought hard and deservedly pulled one back through Juma Yatina.
\nBut Masters were awarded a penalty in the closing stages of the game after Nthala brought down Nyangulu in the box.
\nDalio stepped up to grab the equaliser.
\nPhambala said his team would like to lift the cup after failing to do so in last season\u2019s final.
\n\u201cWe had all the chances to win the game in regulation time but lack of concentration nearly cost us the game. But we are working on winning in the final against either Bullets or Moyale. We are not scared of whoever makes it,\u201d Phambala said.
\nHis counterpart, Abasi Makawa, was quick to accept defeat.
\n\u201cIt is painful to be out of the tournament but my players did a good job,\u201d Makawa said.
\nStarting lineups
\nKB: Nthala, Mphepo, Salimu, Sam Chibvunde, Kamsichiri, Dave Banda, Dan Ziba, Diof Simaone, Chiyesa, Harvey Nkacha, Kelvin Hanganda.
\nMasters FC: Phiri, Nkhana, John Chalamanda, Chande, Banda, Sam Gunda, Amadu Makawa, Nkungula, Yatina, Vincent Nyangulu.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
t was with trepidation that Kamuzu Barracks (KB) coach Billy Phambala faced shootouts after his side conceded two goals in the second half to force the game into post-match penalties. Phambala immediately retreated to the dressing room after regulation time\u2014probably dreading the worst. But fate was on his side and he ended up rushing back […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":56405,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-56397","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.times.mw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56397","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.times.mw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.times.mw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.times.mw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.times.mw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=56397"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/archive.times.mw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56397\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":56406,"href":"https:\/\/archive.times.mw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56397\/revisions\/56406"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.times.mw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/56405"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.times.mw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=56397"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.times.mw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=56397"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.times.mw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=56397"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}