Silver Strikers Secure Quaterfinals Spot in FDH Cup with Impressive 1-4 Victory
Silver Strikers made a statement in the 2025 FDH Cup as they qualified for the quarterfinals with a convincing 1-4 victory over FC Shire at Civo Stadium in Lilongwe. Binwell Katinji scored a hat-trick, while Andrew Joseph netted his debut goal for the Central Bankers, leaving the hosts reeling.
It was a dominant display from Silver Strikers, who took an early lead through Katinji's header in the 10th minute. The forward's first goal came after a cross from Zebron Kalima, and it set the tone for the rest of the match.
Silver Strikers continued to press forward, and their efforts paid off in the 35th minute when Katinji doubled their lead with a cool finish. The goal came after a series of attacks, and it left FC Shire struggling to keep up.
During the break, Andrew Joseph was introduced for Ernest Petro. The young striker had a good start to his Silver Strikers career as he came close to scoring four minutes into the second half with a header from a McDonald Lameck cross, but his effort went wide.
However, Joseph made no mistake in the 54th minute when he netted Silver Strikers' third goal from a combination play with Dan Sandukila and Zebron Kalima.
Katinji completed his hat-trick in the 58th minute with a penalty kick after Chinsisi Maonga was brought down in the box. The forward made no mistake as he sent the keeper the wrong way, securing Silver Strikers' place in the next phase of the competition.
FC Shire staged a late comeback, winning a penalty in the 73rd minute, but goalkeeper George Chikooka produced a fantastic save to keep them at bay.
Silver Strikers made four changes in the second half, bringing in Pilirani Mapira, Chikondi Kamanga, Innocent Shema, and Charles Chipala, while resting George Chikooka, Dan Sandukila, McDonald Lameck, and Levison Maganizo.
Despite the changes, the Central Bankers held on to their lead and qualified for the next phase of the competition.
Second assistant coach Young Chimodzi Jnr was full of praise for his team's performance.
"We have had a good game today. We didn't want to take any chances. The boys have shown a good performance, and we are proud of them. We scored early in the match and killed the game in good time. With the win, we have qualified to the quarterfinals of the cup, and we look forward to the next stage," said Chimodzi Jnr.
Katinji was awarded the man of the match award, and Silver Strikers will now turn their focus to league action as they host Mighty Wanderers on Sunday.
Silver Strikers' impressive performance in the FDH Cup is a sign of things to come for the team, who have their sights set on winning the competition and making a strong push for the league title.
Meanwhile, FC Shire will be left to rue their missed opportunities as they exit the competition in the round of 16.
Silver Strikers fans are already excited about the prospect of their team reaching the quarterfinals and beyond. With their form in the league also impressive, the Central Bankers are looking like serious contenders for both competitions.
Stay tuned for more updates on Silver Strikers' progress in the FDH Cup and their upcoming league match against Mighty Wanderers.
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Summary: Silver Strikers defeated FC Shire 1-4 in the FDH Cup quarterfinals, advancing to the next stage with a hat-trick from Binwell Katinji and a debut goal from Andrew Joseph. The Central Bankers took an early lead through Katinji's header and doubled their advantage through a series of attacks. Joseph scored his first goal four minutes into the second half, and Katinji completed his hat-trick with a penalty kick. The hosts won a penalty late in the game, but the Silver Strikers goalkeeper made a fantastic save. Despite making four changes in the second half, the Central Bankers held on to their lead and qualified for the next phase of the competition. The team's second assistant coach, Young Chimodzi Jnr, praised the players for their good performance and their ability to kill the game early. Katinji was awarded the man of the match award.
