Ekhaya FC booked a historic place in the Round of 16 of the Castel Challenge Cup after edging past Ntaja United 4–2 on post-match penalties, following a dramatic 2–2 draw in normal time at Balaka Stadium.
What happened
The Cowboys were on the boil right from the start and asserted their authority early on, dominating possession and pinning the hosts deep in their own half.
With the ball glued to their feet, Ekhaya fired from all angles and dictated the tempo, but for all the early promise there was little penetration in the final third as Ntaja stood firm.
The breakthrough eventually arrived courtesy of individual brilliance. Moses Banda took matters into his own hands, unleashing a powerful long-range strike that flew past the goalkeeper to give Ekhaya a deserved lead.
The goal further ignited the visitors, who pushed forward in search of a second and looked firmly in control.
However, football proved cruel as Ntaja United struck back against the run of play. Brian Kuntambira produced a moment of quality, curling home a sublime effort to restore parity at 1–1.
Before Ekhaya could regroup and respond, the hosts completed a swift turnaround. Ntaja captain Llyod Chilenga rose to the occasion, finding the net to hand the home side a surprise 2–1 advantage going into the break.
The second half told a different story. Ntaja, buoyed by their lead, adopted a more compact and resolute approach, making it increasingly difficult for Ekhaya’s attacking unit to unlock their defence.
Despite sustained pressure, clear-cut chances were hard to come by as frustration grew among the Cowboys.
A tactical shift proved decisive.
Ekhaya made five changes in search of inspiration, and the move finally paid off with 15 minutes remaining. Captain Andrew Lameck delivered a pinpoint cross into the box, which Clever Chikwata met with a well-timed header to level the scores at 2–2 and force the tie towards extra time.
Both sides had opportunities late on to snatch victory in normal time, but neither could find the decisive touch.
With no separation at the final whistle, the match was settled from the penalty spot, where Ekhaya FC showed composure and nerve to claim a 4–2 shootout win and seal progression.
What it means
The victory sees Ekhaya FC advance to the Round of 16 of the Castel Challenge Cup for the first time in the club’s history, a significant milestone for The Cowboys.
What the coach said
“It was a difficult match, made more difficult by ourselves. We controlled the game well in the early stages, played them in their own half, created chances but didn’t score. After that, we conceded two quick goals. We made changes and equalised to force the tie into extra time. We made it difficult by ourselves, but the character shown was important.”
What’s next
Ekhaya FC will now turn their attention to the Round of 16, where they face a stern test against Shire Wimbe a side coming into the tie full of confidence after a convincing 4–0 victory over Chintheche.
