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BLANTYRE. — Nyasa Big Bullets coach Callisto Pasuwa has blasted his players for blowing away a 1-0 advantage to lose 1-3 at home to AmaZulu at the Bingu National Stadium on Saturday as they bowed out of the CAF Champions League.

The frustrated Zimbabwean tactician accused his players of underrating their opponents after a stunning victory in the first leg in Durban, South Africa a week ago.

The visibly angry coach said some of the senior players did not perform to expectation.

“We saw some childish defending on the part of some senior players.

‘‘I think some players were thinking we had already won and it would be easy,’’ he said.

“Those childish mistakes at the back have cost us the game and at this level of a competition, you cannot afford to do these kind of mistakes.

“But, I have been telling the players every day that it’s not over and we need to be focused but they didn’t listen.”

Bullets were 0-2 down inside the opening 15 minutes courtesy of a brace from Bonginkosi Ntuli, who opened the scoring from the spot in the fourth minute, before scoring again, seven minutes later.

The first goal resulted from a blunder by defender Sankhani Mkandawire, who handled the ball while trying to clear it on the line, while the second goal came after the back four went to sleep, to allow Ntuli to back-heel an otherwise harmless cross.

Though Bullets pulled one back through Henry Kabichi poor marking gifted the visitors a third goal through Siphelele Mthembu to end the bad day in office for Pasuwa.

Following the exit, Bullets will now shift their attention to the TNM Super League title as they host Mafco at Kamuzu Stadium.

“We are out, we have to move on,” said Pasuwa.

His counterpart Benni McCarthy said his charges were better disciplined after the 1-0 home loss to Bullets.

“I think we nailed down the strategy down to a tee, and this result was expected, but I didn’t think we would make it so difficult and complicated for ourselves by not winning at home.

“Then having to travel all the way to Malawi and then be under pressure and having to be composed and disciplined in an almost ‘fight for your life game’ situation.

“So, I am just happy for the players that they were able to overturn the deficit and show great maturity, experience and desire that we maybe lacked when we were at home.”

Football analyst Charles Nyirenda said Bullets’ poor performance was a cause for concern.

“The negative outcome requires a thorough review to establish why a team that gave massive hope to Malawian folks, having won 1-0 away with only 10 men on the field of play for around 60 minutes, froze so badly on home soil.”

McCarthy had been warned he would face a backlash in Lilongwe in the wake of his remarks after the first leg.

After their loss in Durban, McCarthy said AmaZulu would now “go and play in the jungle” while also being caught in a heated moment with an opposing player during his post-match interview.

According to former Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder, Chancy Gondwe, he expected a backlash in Malawi against McCarthy.

“This is now personal against Benni McCarthy because he undermined us by calling Malawi a jungle,” Gondwe told KickOff.com.

“How does he say they are going to the bush?

‘‘He also said he has never heard of this team Bullets so people here are angry and want to show him that there are other teams that can do better.

“Even Bullets just want to show McCarthy that he is a young man in coaching.

‘‘Bullets were angry over his utterances so that is why they want to show him. I think after he loses here, he will have problems with the management.

‘‘Maybe they will sack him.’’

However, it was McCarthy who was having the last laugh after his men turned the contest on its head with an emphatic victory in Lilongwe.

While Big Bullets are based in Blantyre, they have to play their matches in Lilongwe because the stadium in their home city is not up to standards for a Champions League match. — Malawi Nation/Kick-Off.com/Sports Reporter