Bullets drop points again
For a second successive week, Nyasa Big Bullets dropped two vital points when they played out a two-all draw against Silver Strikers at Bingu National Stadium (BNS) in Lilongwe on Sunday.
Following the result, the People’s Team lead the 16- team top-flight league with 57 points from 23 matches, eight points above second-placed Blue Eagles who lost 1-0 to Ekwendeni Hammers at Mzuzu Stadium through Chawanangwa Gumbo’s strike.
With seven games before they wind up the season, Bullets remain on course for a fourth successive title and 16th overall.
The Central Bankers, who twice came from behind to force a draw, are seventh with 39 points from 25 matches, 18 points adrift of the leaders.
In a post-match interview, Bullets coach Kalisto Pasuwa admitted that his team did not play well.
He said: “I think complacency crept in. We were scoring first and then conceding.
“At some point, we also lost concentration because tempers flared.”
Pasuwa said they will go back to the drawing board. His counterpart Leo Mpulula said they deserved to win the match.
He said: “The boys played according to instructions and the result is not a true reflection of the game because we dominated 80 if not 90 percent of the match.
“But I am happy that we have now reverted to our mpunga-mpunga [pass-and-move] style and with time we will be.
Anthony Mfune drew first blood for Bullets barely two minutes into the game when he was set up by Babatunde Adepoju.
From then on, Silver appeared to be in control and created a number of scoring chances, but failed to make them count.
Their hitman Chawanangwa Kaonga twice missed from close range.
Their efforts paid off two minutes into the second half when Kaonga scored from a penalty which was awarded after Blessings Mpokera had fouled Zebron Kalima in the box.
But as Silver fans were still celebrating the goal, Bullets went ahead again through their wonderkid Patrick Mwaungulu’s fabulous shot that gave the Central Bankers’ goaltender Charles Thom no chance.
Silver never gave up and continued fighting and were rewarded when Patrick Macheso levelled the score in the 67th minute.
Towards the end of the game, Silver were reduced to 10 men when Innocent Shema was shown the red card, but they held on to their nerve.
Kalima was named the man-of-the-match.
In other matches, Dedza Dynamos Salima Sugar and Moyale Barracks drew one-all so did Mighty Waka-Waka Tigers and Karonga United.
