* They first booted booted out MAFCO FC in the Castel Challenge Cup 2024 Round of 64
* The Chipiku Division side went to the game as underdogs while the Bankers made 10 changes to the side that won the Airtel Top 8 semifinal against Mighty Wanderers on Saturday
By McDonald Dawala, Correspondent
Silver Strikers have been knocked out of the Castel Challenge Cup 2024 Round of 32 by a second tier Chipiku Central Region Football League side, Panthers FC after losing 4-3 in penalties following a thrilling 2-2 draw in regulation time at the giants’ own home, Silver Stadium.
This is the second scalp for Panthers FC in the Castel Challenge Cup 2024 as they also eliminated TNM Super league side, MAFCO in Round of 64.
The Chipiku Division side went to the game as underdogs while the Bankers made 10 changes to the side that won the Airtel Top 8 semifinal against Mighty Wanderers on Saturday.
Silver’s line up yesterday
And that of Saturday
The decision by coach Peter Mponda to change the starting XI was to rest the regular players as they have important games to play in defending their lead at the top of TNM Super League 2024 as well as ahead of the Airtel Top 8 final against defending champions, Nyasa Big Bullets.
Panthers FC made some surprise performance as they dominated ball possession, forcing coach Mponda to make an early double substitution, bringing on Duncan Nyoni and Friday Osagie for Innocent Mtinga and Paul Kansungwi.
However, the change failed to yield immediate results as the first half ended goalless and come the second half, Panthers stunned Silver Strikers through Geoffrey Sumani’s 47th-minute goal, assisted by Junior Malidadi.
It didn’t take long as Malidadi added salt to the Bankers wound when he scored directly from a corner, to lead to 2-0 and things seemed not going Silver’s way when Panthers goalkeeper Precious Macamba saved Chisomo Mpachika’s penalty kick that was awarded after a Panthers player handled the ball in the box.
Silver then pulled one back in the 77th when Duncan Nyoni headed home a corner kick from Mark Fodya and eight minutes later, Fodya again played a brilliant corner that Nyoni again headed in to level the scores.
The match then proceeded to penalties, where Uchizi Vunga and Patrick Macheso missed for Silver Strikers, while Noel Sibale was the sole Panther to miss to ultimately emerged victorious, winning 4-3 in the shootout.
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Coach Mponda said his team did not perform as expected, adding: “I am very disappointed with both the result and our performance but this is what happens when you underrate an opponent.
“We had the same thing happening to us in the FDH Bank Cup [against another Chipiku Central Region Football League side, Blue Eagles] but the script never changed this afternoon so all we have to do is accept and go forward.
“If we underrate team, this is what usually happens the same that happened in the FDH Bank Cup,” he said, adding that the players he used are the ones who trained well and had to be used to rest the regular ones.
“We signed 30 players and we say they are all of top quality, but today they didn’t give us what we expect from them. The other players played on Saturday and it’s an unhealthy for them to play again on Tuesday.
“We have got important games, we are running for the league title but also a cup final on Saturday. We have to go for it in the league as we still have some games to play and some players had to he rested.”
Coach of Panthers FC, Misheck Jere was all smiles, saying he was extremely happy for booting out another TNM Super League side, saying: “Our counterparts are league leaders, so we came with a little bit of fear but after the first half ended goalless, we just told our boys just to apply our usual play.”
Meanwhile, Mighty Mukuru Wanderers heaped their disappointment at being beaten 1-0 by Silver Strikers in the Airtel Top 8 by thrashing Chipoka United 10-1 in the Castel Challenge Cup Round of 32.
The Nomads’ Clement Nyondo claimed four goals (19′, 28′, 53′ and 82′); a brace by Gaddie Chirwa (58′ 86′) and one each from Wallace Adam (33′), Isaac Kaliati (47′), Wisdom Mpinganjira (56′) and Francisco Madinga (90+5′) while Chipoka United’s consolation was from Isaac Kajam (26′).—Edited by Duncan Mlanjira, Maravi Express
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