INTO THE PROMISED LAND: Wanderers Edge Bullets to Storm into FDH Bank Cup Final

For an almost balanced Blantyre derby at Kamuzu Stadium in the FDH Bank Cup semifinal, the deciding moment came just a minute shy of full time.

An Isaac Kaliati corner kick, initially blocked by the FCB Nyasa Big Bullets defense, bounced kindly back to his feet. With composure, Kaliati whipped in a second delivery that met the towering Promise Kamwendo, who rose highest to glance home a powerful header that sent Mighty Wanderers into the tournament’s final.

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The officiation added seven minutes of stoppage time, a window that Bullets hoped would bring redemption. But it was Wanderers who carried the fire, attacking with purpose and forcing their rivals into panic. The red half of the stadium, living in denial, turned to frustration, throwing objects onto the field.

When referee David Chinoko blew the final whistle, the blue half of Kamuzu Stadium erupted in celebration. Songs, drums, and joy flooded the stands as Wanderers fans savored a third victory over their city rivals in a single campaign.

It was a sunny afternoon in Blantyre, the kind of day that set the perfect stage for football’s fiercest city rivalry. From kickoff, both sides showed hunger.

Inside the opening ten minutes, Bullets threatened first when Chrispin Mapemba’s header went over the bar from a Chikumbutso Salima cross. Wanderers replied with organized buildup play, pressing high and probing down the flanks through Sama Thierry Tanjong and Wallace Adam.

There were penalty appeals from the hosts, tempers flaring, and near misses that sent murmurs rippling through the crowd.

At the half-hour mark, Chawanangwa Gumbo received the first yellow card for a reckless tackle, followed later by Maxwell Phodo, who was also booked. By halftime, it remained goalless, though the tempo and tension told a story of two sides unwilling to blink.

The second half brought changes and renewed energy. Bullets introduced Paul Master and Yamikani Mologeni for Gumbo and Phodo, while Wanderers held firm in their structure.

Sama continued to torment defenders, forcing fouls and stretching play wide. The Nomads’ defense, marshalled by Peter Cholopi at the center back position, stood resolute against a series of Bullets corners.

At the hour mark, the momentum began to tilt. The game’s physical intensity rose as both teams chased the elusive opener. Wanderers’ fans sensed a breakthrough when their side made a triple substitution in the 74th minute, introducing Blessings Mwalilino, Masiya Manda, and Promise Kamwendo for Clement Nyondo, Adam and Sama. The change would later prove decisive.

In the 89th minute, the moment arrived. Kaliati, sharp as ever, curled in a perfect cross that met Kamwendo’s head with precision. The net rippled, and Kamuzu Stadium exploded in jubilation. Bullets, desperate and disoriented, could not recover.

Wanderers held their ground through the tense final minutes, and when the final whistle sounded, they had sealed a 1-0 victory that booked their place in the FDH Bank Cup final against Silver Strikers.

Head coach Bob Mpinganjira described the win as hard-earned but richly deserved.

“It was a tough game, but the boys played according to plan. We are happy to reach the final, and our focus now is on Silver Strikers. They are a strong team, so we must prepare well to get our hands on the FDH Bank Cup trophy for the first time,” he said.

Mpinganjira added that he will keep rotating his squad in the coming fixtures to manage fatigue and maintain form heading into the final and the remaining league assignments.

From the losing camp, Bullets coach Peter Mponda conceded defeat but praised his side’s effort.

“It is painful to take considering how we played. We controlled large parts of the game but failed to capitalize. Wanderers punished us from a lapse in marking,” he said.

He further emphasized the need for his team to regroup quickly as they return to league duties after back-to-back derby losses.

This was the third time the two Blantyre giants met in the FDH Bank Cup semifinals, with Wanderers stumbling in the previous encounters. But this time, they stood tall.

For Wanderers, it will be their first appearance in the FDH Bank Cup final, where they will face Silver Strikers — the tournament’s inaugural winners in 2021 after defeating Ekwendeni Hammers 2-1 at Bingu National Stadium.