Silver Strikers Reserve refused to buckle despite suffering red card blow just after the break as they beat Kawinga FC 1-0 to book a place in Nyasa Capital Finance Cup final.
Ishmael Hassan was on target for the Young Bankers on 54th minute to give his team much needed victory at Nankhaka Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The game started on a low note with less action in the final third of both teams but slowly the Young Bankers grew into the game and registered their first attempt after 22 minutes through Lasuli Jali whose shot from outside the box was well saved by Kawinga FC goalkeeper Dan Kabango.
Five minutes later, Kabango was forced into another save as he dived to catch Masambelo Kalua’s teasing cross in the far corner.
The visitors had their first serious attempt on 33rd minute when a long ball from Jouma Edward’s freekick nearly missed the target and that was the last chance for either side in the first half.
Silver Strikers Reserve were reduced to ten men just three minutes into the second half as Moses Nyirenda was sent off after exchanging words with the referee in protest to freekick given to Kawinga FC.
Silver Strikers shrugged off the red card setback to take the lead after 54 minutes through Ishmael Hassan.
The midfielder, tapped into the net the ball from rebound after Imran Kauaku’s first attempt from freekick bounced off the post.
In a bid to get an equalizer, Kawinga FC brought in Yamikani Tambala, Dalitso Nahipa and Anold Kiyama for Lazarus Chirwa, Imran Awali and Isaac Kalawole after 63 minutes of play and the changes could have payed off after one minute later but Chisomo Hiwa was denied by the post after he dribbled past two Silver Strikers Reserve players before unleashing a powerful shot.
Kawinga FC frustration grew after handed a blow when their right fullback Jauma Edward got two bookings and was sent off for reckless tackles.
Macdonald Yobe introduced defending midfielder Aaron Namacha for striker Lasuli Jali with two minutes to go to tighten the defense which worked out as they clung to their 1-0 lead until full time.
“We didn’t play as we used to, maybe the boys were under pressure because it was semifinal and also maybe because we had Red card but all in all the good thing is that we have won the match” said Silver Strikers Reserve coach Macdonald Yobe.
His counterpart, Harry Saidi accept the defeat: “we conceded very easy goals, we had an advantage after their player was sent off but we failed to utilize that opportunity, anyway we have conceded the defeat, that’s football” said Saidi
With the victory, Silver Strikers Reserve will face St. Gabriel Medicals Zitha in this year’s Nyasa Capital Finance Cup final as the Namitete side beat Mchinji Boma Strikers 4-2 at Aubrey Dimba Stadium in Mchinji.
The defending champions relied on goals from Mathews Hamuza,Thomas Majola,Yohane Kamwaza and Symon Chimenya while Andrew Chisi and Blessings Nkhata scored consolation goals for Mchinji Boma Strikers.
