By SANDRA MWILA –
at Nkoloma Stadium
Buffaloes 0 (5) Power 0 (3)
GREEN Buffaloes and Nkwazi yesterday needed nerve-wracking penalty shoot-outs to knock-out two-time champions, Power Dynamos and legendary cup fighters, Mufulira Wanderers from the 2015 Barclays Cup competition.
Buffaloes, the 2009 losing finalists, and Nkwazi qualified to next month’s semi-finals after winning their respective quarter-final clashes in Lusaka watched by among others Home Affairs Minister, Davies Mwila, Finance Deputy Minister, Christopher Mvunga with his Mines counterpart, Richard Musukwa and FAZ president, Kalusha Bwalya.
The two service teams will wait for two other semi-finals in today’s quarter-finals pitting defending champions, Zesco United against Kabwe Warriors and Zanaco taking on Lumwana Radiants.
Defender Stephen Kabamba drilled home the winning penalty for Buffaloes after Derrick Mwansa had missed his chance for Power.
Buffaloes converted the other spot-kicks past Power substitute goalkeeper, Becky Bizangi through Jack Chirwa, Buchizya Mfune, Felloni Sitonya and Adrian Chama while Kennedy Mudenda, Larry Bwalya and Alex Mwamba responded for the Kitwe side.
In duration time, both teams had chances of wrapping up the match but were poor with finishing.
Buffaloes had more opportunities with Lottie Nyimbili and Friday Samu being among the culprits in this K2.2 million-rich tournament.
Nkwazi 0 (4) Wanderers 0 (3)
NKWAZI stormed the Barclays Cup semi-finals for the first time after ejecting Mufulira Wanderers on post-match penalties in a lunchtime kick-off in Lusaka.
Wanderers, who suffered a similar fate at this stage last year, saw their dreams of reaching the last four go up in flames after team captain, Taonga Bwembya and Jacob Ngulube missed their spot-kicks.
Manfred Chabinga’s men had scored other penalties through Chisopa Malama, Mike Katiba and Allan Kamwanga Jnr but Nkwazi only missed one and converted the rest.
After Steward Chikandiwa sent Nkwazi’s first spot-kick against the post, Rodrick Zimba, Wilbroad Mutale, Chipungu Musukuma and Emmanuel Kasonde put away their efforts to send the Zambia Police side into the last four.
During regulation time, both sides failed to craft clear-cut chances but Musukuma could have given Nkwazi the lead on 30 minutes but Wanderers goalkeeper, Joshua Manyongo was equal to the task.
Wanderers pressed hard but the Nkwazi rearguard defended solidly to ensure the match was decided on penalties.