After weeks of firing blanks, Blantyre – based Mighty Wanderers yesterday regained their scoring formula with a 3-1 victory over Blue Eagles in a TNM Super League contest at Nankhaka Stadium in Lilongwe.
Prior to yesterday’s match, the Nomads had been struggling to find the back of the net with an average of a goal per match in four games.
But yesterday, the Lali Lubani Road side had their guns blazing from the word go and by half time, they were already in the comfort zone as they led 3-0.
Yesterday’s victory saw the
Nomads, who are second in the 16-team top-flight, cutting their arch-rivals FCB Nyasa Bullets’ lead at the summit back to four points.
Wanderers now have 45 points from 19 matches with one game in hand.
The win has also boosted their confidence in the countdown to the latest episode of the Blantyre derby scheduled for this Sunday at Kamuzu Stadium.
In yesterday’s match, the visitors showed intent early, taking the game to Eagles as they looked to narrow the gap with Bullets.
Blessings Mwalilino, who was named player of the match, drew first blood for the Nomads in the 19th minute from a rebound after the cops’ defence was caught napping to calmly slot the ball home.
Nine minutes later, the former Karonga United hitman claimed a brace after Eagles defenders failed to clear Muhammad Sulumba’s cross for the Nomads’ second goal.
And with seven minutes to half-time, last season’s golden boot winner Isaac Kaliyati netted the third from a penalty awarded after a dangerously advancing Adam Wallace was fouled by Eagles’ Gilbert Chirwa.
Eagles came into the second half with renewed purpose and reduced the arrears in the 77th minute through Pius Saka, but it was too little too late.
Wanderers coach Bob Mpinganjira praised his charges for what he described as a “satisfactory performance”.
“It is a great result, considering that we were playing away. I am happy with the way the boys played,” he said.
His Malawi Police Service side counterpart Deklerk Msakakuona was disappointed with the loss.
“Wanderers played well, especially in the first 20 minutes and they never gave us room. We need to sit down and work something out. How the players perform in in training is different from the actual game,” he said.
Eagles are seventh with 28 points from 21 games.
In other matches, Ekhaya FC of Blantyre thumped Kamuzu Barracks of Lilongwe 3-0 at Kamuzu Stadium. Emmanuel Saviel scored a brace while James Lumbe scored the other goal.
At Civo Stadium in Lilongwe, Civil Service United and Mighty Tigers played out a goalless draw
