Goalless draw leaves Wanderers tied on points with Bullets

 Mighty Mukuru Wanderers yesterday felt the biting chilly conditions after they were held to a goalless draw by Bangwe All Stars in a TNM Super League match at Mpira Stadium in Chiwembe Township, Blantyre.

After being dislodged from the summit of the log table by Silver Strikers on Saturday, the Nomads needed to win to return to the top, but were frustrated by the strong-willed hosts who matched them pound for pound.

The Nomads are third with eight points, two short of leaders Silver and a point behind second-placed Mzuzu City Hammers.

They are also tied on points with fourth-placed Kamuzu Barracks (KB) as well as their arch-rivals FCB Nyasa Bullets who are fifth. The three teams are separated by goal difference.

In a contest that failed to stir the passions, from the word go, Bangwe All Stars frustrated the Nomads with their off-side trap tactics.

Within the first four minutes, Nomads striker and last season’s golden boot winner Clement Nyondo was ruled off-side twice and by the end of the match, it was 13 times.

The Nomads had their first real chance in the 12th minute when Gaddie Chirwa broke down the right wing to set up Wisdom Mpinganjira whose shot went wide.

Burly forward Christopher Kumwembe also had two chances which were wasted.

Wanderers thought they had taken the lead in the 25th minute when Felix Zulu struck from outside the box, but Kumwembe was adjudged to have been off-side.

Bangwe’s closest chance came in the 28th minute when Kondwani Chilembwe floated a fabulous cross which was cleared just in time by Stanley Sanudi.

In the 58th minute, Clement Nyondo appeared to have broken the deadlock with a fine header which hit the roof of the net, but it was again ruled off-side.

In the 70th minute, Isaac ‘Tcheya’ Kaliyati, who replaced Kumwembe, beat the hosts’ off-side trap, but his final touch was aweful.

In other matches, newly-promoted Fomo FC registered their second win following a 1-0 victory over Chitipa United courtesy of Chimwemwe Kamowa’s 20th minute strike at Mulanje Park Stadium.

At Civo Stadium in Lilongwe, KB beat Civil Service United 2-1 while Karonga United beat Mighty Tigers 3-1 at Karonga Stadium. Moyale Barracks and Dedza Dynamos played out a goalless draw.