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Bullets end winless run, Silver floored again

Spiky-haired defender Yamikani Fodya’s 53rd minute free-kick handed Big Bullets a 2-1 win over battling Civo United at the Kamuzu Stadium to end a three-game winless streak while sending the defending champions momentarily top as of Saturday.
Seasoned winger Fischer Kondowe had headed the Bullets the lead when guiding into an open net a Dalitso Sailesi’s left-frank cross after 23 minutes. However, false striker Nelson Kangunje made it three goals in equal number of games when thumping in a Civo leveler 15 minutes later.
So, when Fodya curled in the winner earned after Jaffalie Chande was fouled, the red side of Blantyre danced in the terraces then the Blantyre streets. In contrast, the mood was dampened for Civo. For all their disciplined play, the Oscar Kaunda side set a new bad record of going eight games winless on the trot or 480 minutes of playing football.
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The body language of the Civo bench said it. Kaunda explained it all: “We have lost yes, but the referee [Andy Kuseli] played a part in our loss. We were able to score in a third game in row which is encouraging. We just have to work on the defence.”
Make no mistake about it; the result was a manifestation of Fodya’s brilliance and versatility as a left back when taking his tally to two goals. It was by no means a reflection of Civo’s flairlies as they stuck to the game plan so well.
Man-marker Patience Malumo caged Chiukepo Msowoya, while winning all first balls, alongside Blessings Phiri. Upfront, Daniel Msimuko and Charles Chirembo could not find their range, but Emmanuel Zoya then John Lanjesi cleared every ball in sight.
So where did it goal wrong for Civo? For a start, in conceding the opening headed goal by Fischer Kondowe on the 23rd minute, Civo were guilty of failing to retreat in numbers behind the ball when the Bullets were on the break. Defending so deep and with Malumo playing further up meant that Civo were essentially left exposed in defence.
However, the story could have been different had Msikuko found the target when chesting, turning and volleying wide from Zoya’s spinning throw-in. In fact, Msimuko’s second half replacement, Raphael Phiri should have punished the Bullets but he sent his rebound wide after goalkeeper Vincent Gona had punched a ball from a throw-in onto the striker’s way.
Such a spilled ball by Gona during the game that had the Bullets missing defender Sankhani Mkandawire spoke of the Peoples Team’s defensive short-falls. For Civo to score the equaliser, the Bullets defence spilled the ball again and set a volley opportunity for Kangunje.
The win, coming after three straight draws, sent the Bullets top on 23 points, two ahead of second-placed rivals Be Forward Wanderers. Having played nine game, the Nomads could regain top spot if they find away past Silver Strikers who are licking the wounds of a second consecutive defeat after losing 1-0 at Kalulu Stadium through Peter Katsonga’s penalty goal following a foul on Dan Kumwenda yesterday. Tigers moved to fourth on 17 points from nine games as Silver slipped to fourth on 16 points from 10 games.
In Mzuzu Stadium, Innocent Bokosi’s two goals handed eighth-placed Red Lions a 2-1 win over Moyale Barracks who sneaked in the consolation through sniper Deus Nkutu. Moyale are 10th on eight points from nine games. In another game, Epac made it two wins in a row after beating Airborne Rangers 1-0 at Civo Stadium to jump to eighth on 11 points

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