FCB Nyasa Bullets proved their pedigree as Malawi’s football powerhouse when they defended the Airtel Top 8 after beating Silver Strikers 1-0 on Saturday.
The People’s salvaged their pride in a season they were a peripheral figure when Ernest Petro’s goal in the 71st minute sealed Silver Strikers fate in a highly contested match.
Silver would live to rue their missed chances as they dominated the match.
No wonder Bullets pounced on a set piece to score when Petro out-jumped Silver Strikers to head home a well delivered cross that was created from a short corner kick.
The goal sent Bullets fans on their toes to celebrate a feat they echoed last season’s fairytale run in which they swept all available domestic cups.
However, Silver stretched Bullets to the limit as they fought hard in desperate search for an equaliser. The Central Bankers nearly got it in injury time, but Bullets had Yamikani Mologeni’s goal-line clearance saved his team.
The clean was the icing on the cake as they won without conceding a goal.
In a post-match interview, Bullets coach Kallisto Pasuwa said it was a milestone in a season in which they struggled to replicate the 2023 performance.
“It was a very tactical game, especially the first half in which they opposition dominating play. In the second half, we tried to push numbers.
“We had one of the crosses and we got a goal. These are cup games where you don’t need beautiful football, but you need a result at the end of the day; hence we won it.”
His Silver counterpart Peter Mponda, who was assistant coach to Bullets said it was a painful loss.
“We did everything. We analyse them. We neutralised their strength. I don’t think that Bullets did anything to deserve to win this game.
Sometimes you need luck to win football matches. It’s exactly what happened today. We created enough chances to win that game. Bullets did not do anything to win this game.”
Bullets are currently on third position with 44 points from 25 matches in the TNM Super League, 10 behind leaders Silver Strikers and three adrift of second-placed Mighty Mukuru Wanderers.
