The defending champions, Silver Strikers, showcased a gallant fight in the second half to overcome resilient Karonga United at Silver Stadium on Wednesday afternoon, a victory that propelled them into the top 5 of the league table.
Chinsisi Maonga opened the scoring just before the break, giving Silver Strikers a crucial lead. However, Karonga responded early in the second half, with Patrick Phiri leveling the scores from the penalty spot. Chimwemwe Idana then fired the Bankers back in front, before Festus Duwe capped off a dominant 3-1 win for the Bankers in front of their home fans.
This impressive win lifts Silver Strikers to fifth place with 15 points from 8 matches. Their attention now shifts to a highly anticipated weekend assignment against FCB Nyasa Big Bullets in the 30th Anniversary Celebration for First Capital Bank.
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On the other hand, the defeat leaves Karonga United in sixth place with 15 points from 8 games. They will now focus on a challenging league game against Mighty Wanderers FC on Sunday in Karonga.
Blistering Silver strikes Crocodiles
Silver Strikers entered this match on the back of a 1-1 league draw against Blue Eagles, though they had secured a spot in the Airtel Top 8 Cup final last weekend by beating Civil Service United.
The weekend’s victory evidently energized the Bankers, who kicked off the game with ambition. Chimwemwe Idana and Festus Duwe combined effectively, setting up Chinsisi Maonga, whose initial effort was tamed by McLean Mwale before Maonga narrowly missed the upright with another attempt.
The wait for a goal finally ended in the 37th minute when Chinsisi Maonga clinically tucked home Emmanuel Allan’s pass, giving Silver Strikers a deserved lead.
Pressure from Karonga in the second half led to them earning a penalty. Patrick Phiri confidently beat George Chikooka from the spot to equalize. However, Silver Strikers’ reaction was swift and brilliant, as they responded with two quick goals.
Maxwell Paipi, Festus Duwe, and Chinsisi Maonga were all involved in the build-up to the next goal before Idana brilliantly fired them back in front. Just two minutes later, Macdonald Lameck spotted Duwe in a prime position, and the former Ascent Academy midfielder calmly tapped it home for the third goal, sealing the victory.
Karonga’s fight undone by two quick goals
Karonga United had suffered a 2-1 defeat to FCB Nyasa Big Bullets prior to this midweek game, but their performance in that match had earned widespread praise. They were looking for a positive result against Silver as they prepared to face the in-form Mighty Wanderers FC.
Before this game, Karonga had conceded just three goals in total, but they swallowed three in one match against Silver. They fell behind before the break, but their response in the second half was initially brilliant.
They applied significant pressure on the hosts and successfully earned a penalty, which Phiri converted. However, they couldn’t withstand the subsequent pressure, conceding two crucial goals in the 61st and 63rd minutes, ultimately undermining their valiant effort.
Pictures by Silver Strikers media
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