Nomads close in on KB
Mighty Mukuru Wanderers yesterday reduced the gap with third-placed Kamuzu Barracks (KB) to just one point following their 2-1 win over Ekwendeni Hammers at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.
The Nomads remain fourth with 47 points from 24 matches, but have a game less compared to the Malawi Defence Force side.
Wanderers now trail leaders and their arch-rivals Nyasa Big Bullets by 11 points, and three behind second-placed Blue Eagles.
The win ensured back-to-back victories for the Lali Lubani Road side who thumped relegation-bound Rumphi United 10-0 last Wednesday.
On the other hand, the loss halted Hammers five-game unbeaten run.
Nomads coach Alex Ngwira described the encounter as difficult.
He said: “We are eager to fight for second-place finish or, at least third. But we are mindful that it won’t be easy looking at the level of competition.
“I thank my players for playing according to our game plan.”
Hammers coach Gilbert Chirwa blamed the loss on his players’ failure to utilise their chances.
He said: “We played well and created a number of chances, but we couldn’t make good use of them. Maybe it wasn’t just our day. We will go back to the drawing board and work on our shortfalls.
Wanderers took the lead in the 32nd minute through Wisdom Mpinganjira’s well-curled shot from the left flank after receiving a pass from Henry Balakasi.
The goal jolted the visitors who reorganised themselves and created five scoring chances against Wanderers’ three, but failed to make them count.
Ekwendeni started the second-half at full-throttle and nearly equalised through Isaiah Nyirenda whose effort was denied by the side bar.
The visitors then appeared to lose concentration, which allowed the Nomads to come back into the game, leading to Muhammad Sulumba doubling their lead with a powerful shot after being set by Yamikani Chester in the 53rd minute.
But barely two minutes later, the Hammers hit one back through Nyirenda.
Ekwendeni are 10th with 31 points from 28 matches.
Elsewhere, TN Stars compounded Rumphi’s misery with a 2-0 win.
However, despite the win, TN Stars remain second from the bottom with 16 points from 25 matches while table-anchors Rumphi have 10 points from 29 matches.
