Lilongwe-based Blue Eagles yesterday stunned FCB Nyasa Bullets 1-0 at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre to hand the People’s Team their third loss in the TNM Super League.
Laurent Banda scored the lone goal in the 79th minute after being set up by Mecium Mhone in a contest the Lilongwe-based cops dominated for the better part.
Despite the defeat, the People’s Team remains second with 27 points from 12 games, six points behind their rivals Mighty Wanderers, who have played a game more.
In yesterday’s match, it was Eagles who showed strong intent and could have taken the lead in the 12th minute when midfielder Mecium Mhone’s attempt was stopped by Bullets goal minder Innocent Nyasulu.
The only notable attack by Bullets came in the 39th minute when their playmaker Chikumbutso Salima set up Maxwell Gastin Phodo after dribbling past Eagles defenders, but the latter could not provide the final touch.
In a bid to strengthen his side, Bullets coach Peter ‘Mjojo Mponda made a triple substitution, taking off Phodo, Peter Banda and Dominic Musonda for Babatunde Adepoju, Hassan Kajoke and Henry Chiwaya, in tht order.
But Eagles continued to pile pressure on the record 17-time champions and went close successively in the 56th and 59th minutes, but they couldn’t break the deadlock.
Then, with time fast running out, Eagles claimed the winner to send a few ganyu fans into frenzy and the Bullets’ faithful into silence.
In the fourth minute of added time, Ephraim Kondowe nearly leveled the scores for Bullets, but his effort was denied by the woodwork and three points were in the bag for the Malawi Police Service side.
In an interview, Mponda said his charges did not turn up.
He said: “Nothing worked for us today, the only notable thing was just a single attempt we had at goa forl the entire 90 minutes. A very disappointing performance
“I wouldn’t want to find an excuse. We were just hopeless today. Anyway, there are still more games to play and we need to go back to the drawing board and see where we are getting it wrong.”
His Eagles counterpart Deklerk Msakakuona said they had a good plan which worked to perfection.
“It was a tough game, but we have three points in the bag, that’s what matters. It’s good to register back-to-back wins,” he said.
Following the win, Eagles have moved a place up to fourth, displacing Blantyre-based newcomers Ekhaya FC. They are tied with third-placed Silver Strikers on 23 points from 13 matches.
At Karonga Stadium, rookies and table-anchors Songwe Border United’s misery in the flagship league continued after going down 1-3 to Salima-based Mafco FC.
Auspicious Kadzongola, China Chirwa and Rodwell Robert were on target for the Malawi Defence Force side while Aloyce Mwamwaya scored the hosts’ consolation goal.
This was Songwe’s 13th loss. They have a point from 14 matches while Mafco are 10th with 17 points from 13 matches.
