Bullets almost there

FCB Nyasa Bullets will head into the second leg of their CAF Champions League preliminary round against Dragon FC with a spring in their step following a 0-2 win in Equatorial Guinea yesterday.

The two teams meet in the reverse fixture this Sunday at the Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe.

In a match monitored on Bullets’ Facebook Page, a brace from Gasten  Phodo, who until yesterday had been a shadow of his old self after being signed from Silver Strikers, proved  vital for the Malawi flag carriers.

The People’s Team  were in front seven minutes into the match.

It came as no miracle, no need for powers of divination for Phodo to head home a corner-kick which was floated with precision by Lanjesi Nkhoma  to a send the Estadio de Malabo into a cathedral-hush silence.

It became clear that Bullets coach Kallisto Pasuwa’s plan was to go for an early goal to unsettle their hosts and it worked to perfection.

Les Dragon came close in the 22nd minute, but their attempt was stopped by Bullets ‘keeper Richard Chimbamba without breaking sweat.

Bullets doubled their lead in the 36th minute when Phodo  fired from close range.

The goal buoyed the visitors, who forced Dragon into rear guard action and were in the comfort zone going into recess.

At the start of the second half, Pasuwa rested left-back Precious Sambani for Eric Kaonga.

Phodo was denied a hat-trick in the 61st minute when his goal was ruled out for off-side.

With  time ticking on, the stadium oozed anxiety as the hosts desperately searched for a goal, but the People’s Team defence stood firm.

Pasuwa made two more changes as the game progressed, taking out Nkhoma and Limbikani Gumbo for MacFarlen Mgwira and Blessings Mpokera, respectively.