FCB Nyasa Bullets yesterday cut their rivals Mighty Wanderers’ lead in the TNM Super League to just a point following their hard-fought 1-0 win over Mafco FC 0-1 at Champions Stadium in Mponela, Dowa.
The People’s Team took advantage of the Nomads’ slip the previous afternoon when they were held to a one-all draw by Chitipa United at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.
Bullets now have 33 points from 14 matches as the first round heads towards the end.
As the match appeared to be headed for a goalless draw, the 17-time champions lived by their ‘nkumadzulo’ (Bullets fights to the end) slogan, Bullets claimed the winner in the 77th minute through their player of the moment Chikumbutso Salima.
He rose up to head home a Yamikani Mologeni’s well-curled cross to send the red brigade into frenzy.
Relief was written across Bullets coach Peter ‘Mjojo’ Mponda’s face, who took a bottle of water and had a few gulps, then clapped hands for his charges for their fighting spirit.
Six minutes earlier, Salima had missed a close chance, failing to tap the ball home from close range after being set up by Babatunde Adepoju.
Perhaps he knew he needed to make up for that miss and did it to petfection.
Babatunde also missed two close chances in succession earlier on as desperation took a toll.
The Malawi Defence Force side, Mafco, shone in the first half in which they came close twice.
In the 28th minute, Prince Kachere’s powerful shot was denied by the post and six minutes later, his set-piece was kept out by Bullets’ goalkeeper Innocent Nyasulu.
Despite the loss, Mafco remain 10th with 17 points from 14 games.
In other matches, Civil Service United showed no mercy on visiting Mzuzu City Hammers with a 4-0 thumping at Civo Stadium in Lilongwe.
Frank Chizuze scored the first goal and Dastan Banda claimed a brace before John Dambuleni closed the score sheet.
Civil are seventh with 22 points from 14 matches while Hammers remain second from the bottom with eight points from the same number of games.
Karonga United edged Moyale Barracks 1-0. Tajab Juma scored the lone goal.
