The Flames yesterday had a feel of how Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology can change your fortunes when a late goal from Lesotho at the ongoing Cosafa Cup, was initially disallowed for an offside only for the decision to be overturned.
In the 82nd minute at the Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein, South Africa, Malawi thought they had survived a scare when the assistant referee’s flag went up after substitute Makera Mtaitsane sneaked away from the Flames defence and coolly controlled the ball before tapping in past goalkeeper George Chikooka.
But VAR stepped in and, after a two-minute review, it correctly awarded Lesotho the goal in the 86th minute that dealt a blow to Malawi’s dream start at the regional tournament on a high note.
However, in reality, the goal was a true reflection of the match as Malawi was sloppy upfront despite commanding ball possession.
In a post-match interview, assistant coach Peter Mponda blamed his charges for failing to utilise ball possession to create chances and conceding the late goal.
He said: “We didn’t have the numbers to convert our possession into chances. Unfortunately, we lost it at the very end because of loss of concentration.
“We could have defended better the set piece. We were sleeping, all our defenders went for one ball and the deflection fell to Lesotho player, which is painful. But now we have to go back and see how we are going to dig ourselves out of the trench we are in now.”
The match, monitored on SuperSport, started on dull note as both sides failed to weave neat passes that could result in meaningful chances.
As a result, only half chances were created in the first-half which were not good enough to break the deadlock.
In the 18th minute, Lesotho won a free-kick near the corner flag following a foul from defender Timothy Silwimba on Thabang Jonas Malane, but Tsepo Toloane failed to connect home the set piece with Chokooka beaten.
In the 21st minute, Chikumbutso Salima set up McDonald Lameck in the box, but the defender fail to shoot on target as he opted to pass backwards.
Lesotho in the 42nd minute managed to have a shot on target through Teboho Letsema but Chikooka easily collected the low shot as the first-half ended goalless.
There was some improvement in Malawi’s play in the second-half as the team was able to move forward at attack with purpose.
But poor finishing cost the Flames as they failed to register a shot on target despite numerous chances to do so while Lesotho had two.
Flames coach Kallisto Pasuwa was seen shaking his head in the 69th minute in disbelief after Wisdom Mpinganjira mistimed a low cross from Lameck on the right flank which went begging.
Then the moment of truth came when Malawi conceded a free-kick dip in Lesotho half which Malawi failed to defend.
The Flames next face Angola on Sunday at the same venue.
