FCB Nyasa Big Bullets U19 Suffer First Defeat of the Season in Dramatic Comeback by CC Stars
FCB Nyasa Big Bullets U19 suffered their first defeat of the 2025 BDYFL campaign in a thrilling encounter against CC Stars at Kamuzu Stadium on Sunday morning. The visitors staged a dramatic comeback from a 3-0 first-half deficit to win 4-3, handing Bullets their first loss of the season.
The match kicked off at a high tempo, with both sides pressing for an early advantage. Bullets dealt with the early threats from CC Stars, including a brilliant reflex save by goalkeeper McDonald Tchukambiri from a Joseph Siza strike in the opening minutes.
Bullets responded with attacking flair and took control of the game. Steven Bika opened the scoring in the 19th minute, calmly slotting home after receiving a precise pass from Joel Maziya. Just four minutes later, Bika turned provider, delivering a pinpoint cross for Hassan Madula, who doubled the lead with a close-range finish.
Bullets continued their dominance and extended their lead to 3-0 in the 29th minute. Brian Mwase found himself unmarked at the far post to meet a curling delivery from Blessings Lungu and finished with composure. Despite controlling the tempo, Bullets allowed CC Stars a way back in the 37th minute when Siza capitalized on a defensive lapse to reduce the deficit.
Bullets had a golden chance to restore their three-goal cushion after Lungu was fouled in the box, but Thole Sachenja's penalty was expertly saved by the CC Stars goalkeeper, keeping the visitors alive heading into the break with the score at 3-1.
Bullets introduced Darlington Fletcher for Madula at the start of the second half, hoping to inject fresh energy into the attack. The hosts nearly added a fourth goal just after the restart, but Sachenja couldn't connect cleanly with Maziya's dangerous cross.
Then came the turning point. In the 62nd minute, Mike Jomes pulled one back for CC Stars, making it 3-2 and shifting the momentum. Just minutes later, a long throw-in caught the Bullets defense flat-footed, and Jomes rose highest to head home the equalizer, stunning the home crowd.
With the game now wide open, Bullets pushed forward, and Bika thought he had scored again in the 73rd minute, but the flag was up for offside. The decisive moment came in the 78th minute. A quick counterattack from CC Stars caught Bullets off guard, and Blessings Masomba completed the remarkable comeback with a composed finish past Tchukambiri to make it 4-3.
Despite late pressure from the young Maule, CC Stars held on to claim all three points and hand Bullets their first defeat of the season in what was a thrilling, end-to-end contest.
The result has significant implications for the title race in the BDYFL U19 division, with CC Stars moving up to second place and Bullets dropping to third. The loss will serve as a wake-up call for Bullets, who will need to regroup and focus on maintaining their mental toughness and discipline as they look to bounce back from this setback.
The comeback by CC Stars is a reminder of the importance of momentum and capitalizing on opportunities in football. Bullets had several chances to extend their lead but were unable to capitalize, allowing CC Stars to claw their way back into the game. The result is a reminder of the impact of individual mistakes and lapses in defense on the outcome of a game.
Bullets will look to bounce back from this defeat when they face Blantyre United U19 on Wednesday at Balaka Stadium. CC Stars, meanwhile, will look to continue their momentum when they take on Moyale Barracks U19 on Saturday at Njakwa Stadium.
Follow FCB Nyasa Big Bullets and CC Stars on their official Facebook pages, https://web.facebook.com/FCBNyasaBigBullets and https://web.facebook.com/CCStars, for the latest news and updates on their respective campaigns.
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Summary: FCB Nyasa Big Bullets U19 suffered their first defeat of the season against CC Stars, despite leading 3-0 at halftime. The visitors staged a dramatic comeback, scoring four unanswered goals in the second half to win 4-3. Bullets dominated the first half, with Steven Bika and Hassan Madula scoring in the 19th and 24th minutes, respectively, to give the hosts a 3-0 lead. However, CC Stars fought back in the second half, with Mike Jomes and Blessings Masomba scoring in the 62nd and 78th minutes, respectively, to complete the comeback. Despite late pressure from Bullets, CC Stars held on to claim the three points and hand Bullets their first defeat of the season in an action-packed encounter.
