BLUE Eagles lifted the K20 million Carlsberg Cup after edging Escom United 1-0 in a fairly contested affair at Civo Stadium in Lilongwe on Saturday.

The final was graced by, among others, Gender and Children Affairs Minister Annita Kalinde, Carlsberg officials and Fam president Walter Nyamilandu.

The cops pocketed K7 million for being crowned champions while Escom received K3 million.

The police side started the game impressively and registered the only

goal barely nine minutes into the game through a Ben Hojani's volley.

They could have gone on the score sheet again a few minutes later when industrious Mecium Mhone nicely exchanged passes with Dan Phiri who set Eliah Kabingu but he blasted it wide.

Escom defence composed of Bashir Maunde, Spencer Chipantha and Jacob Ngwira was full of blun¬ders and it was lucky that the cops failed to add more goals.

However, Eagles' Mhone could have added a second after Ngwira made a schoolboy blunder but goalkeeper Thomas Kalavina was alert to save the situation.

Ngwira rescued the electricians four minutes later when he cleared the ball on the line in a goal mouth scramble.

The side's frontline of Chiukepo Msowoya, Manase Chiyese and coach player Noel Mkandawire struggled to penetrate through Eagles defence marshalled by Pempho Kamsichiri.

The Eagles remained a potent threat until half time.

Come second half, Escom's Mkandawire could have equalised through a first time touch from Bernard Harawa's corner kick in the fourth minute.

The electricians later made two changes with Yamikani Sichali and

Mischeck Gawani for Lawrence Milanzi and Mkandawire respectively.

The substitution paid dividends as Escom Gawani was a thorn in the Eagles' defence.

The side could have found the equaliser in the 64th minute through Msowoya's shot which was denied by the side post before Gawani also failed to put home from the former's rebound.

However, Escom's goalie Kalavina denied Innocent Bokosi's effort in a one-on-one situation in the 70th minute.

Eagles's coach Derklerk Msakakuona said he was glad that he won the cup.

"We remained focused throughout the campaign and we are glad that we have finally lifted the cup," he said.

His counterpart Gawani accepted the loss but faulted some of the referee Jones Makhuwira's decisions.