Malawi defeat Benin on penalties
The last time McDonald Harawa hit Kamuzu Stadium headlines was all for wrong reasons, but he erased those memories with two stupendous post-match penalty saves against Benin today.
The big Moyale Barracks ‘keeper’s saves fired the Flames through to the Morocco 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying Group B where Mali, who they meet away on September 5 2014, Algeria and Ethiopia await. Two top teams from each of the seven groups and overall third best will make it to the final.
Even the referee Kelvin Ngolanga, who Harawa punched to earn a six-month ban last year at the same venue flashed a smile when winger John Banda’s 12th minute overhead kick put the two teams level at 1-1, paving the way for the penalty lotteries.
“I owe it to goalkeeper coach Philip Nyasulu who drilled me on penalties today to keep calm and be focused,” said Harawa.
The clean-shaven Harawa’s saves were not ordinary. He first denied the highest rated player on the pitch Stephane Sessegnon from converting Benin’s opening spot kick, before repeating his heroics against Kaled Adenon.
“It is difficult for Benin as the players tried all their best…but what can I say? Its football,” said in a post-match interview the West Bromwich Albion attacker.
To their credit, the Flames who were without bed-ridden head coach Young Chimodzi, clinically converted all their penalties through Joseph Kamwendo, Chiukepo Msowoya, captain Lucky Malata and Limbikani Mzava, who arrived a few hours from South Africa after missing a penalty for his club Bloemfontein Celtic, which lost to Bidvest Wits University.
Malawi, ranked 121 and 91 for Benin as of July, had lost the first leg through Sessegnon and today, they started brightly with the Blue Eagles captain Banda looking lively when bursting from the deep to add numbers in attack.
Whistles greeted the opening of the second-half when Gabadinho Mhango, who arrived a few hours before the game alongside Mzava, came in for Ndaziona Chatsalira.
Mhango displayed few flashes of brilliance to win three corner kicks and a corner kick. Unfortunately, the Flames had then taken the foot off the pedal, misplacing passes and being exposed, especially on the left side of the defence where Francis Mulimbika looked out of depth.
Gastin Simkonda stepped in for Robin Ngalande and the Moyale striker thought he had put Malawi ahead, but referee Janny Sikazwe declined his effort for fouling the ‘keeper when heading Msowoya’s flicked ball.
In a post-match interview, Flames deputy coach Jack Chamangwana said he was unhappy that some Malawians fed Benin tips about the Flames and “very soon we will expose them; you will get to know them.”
