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Nomads recover

Blantyre-based Mighty Mukuru Wanderers had to come from behind to salvage a 2-2 draw against a determined Dedza Dynamos yesterday in a TNM Super League at Dedza Stadium.

In a match monitored on Timveni Radio, Dynamos started the match on a promising note, but it took them 37 minutes to score through Clement Nyondo who capitalised on a good cross from  Victor Lungu, beating goalkeeper Richard Chipuwa in the process.

With about three minutes before recess, Dedza doubled the lead through Edward Dakalira who scored from an Ibrahim Sadik corner kick

Wanderers’ Muhammad Sulumba (L) in action against Dedza

Wanderers approached the  second half a reorganised side in bid to score goals.

They started playing with urgency and at the same time maintaining possession with accurate passes. It paid off and they pulled one back in the 48th minute through Vitumbiko Kumwenda.

Then Wanderers coach Alex  Ngwira made a triple substitution, introducing  Alfred Manyozo Jnr, Wisdom Mpinganjra and Muhammad Sulumba to replace  Peter Cholopi, Felix Zulu and Vitumbiko Kumwenda, respectively.

The changes made a difference as the visitors  reigned supreme in all departments.

Dedza defended well for a good part of the match as they sought to protect their lead.

However, Wanderers equalised through an unlikely source in defender Miracle Gabeya in the 88th minute.

Dedza goalkeeper Andrew Mtinkhulu, who was outstanding, could not believe the turn-around.

It was a big sigh of relief for Wanderers technical panel and fans, but a blow to Dedza supporters who thought the game had been won.

Dynamos coach Dan Dzinkambani blamed the loss on complacency.

“We relaxed a bit in the second half. The players became complacent, thinking the game had already been won. Our defending was not good enough. Those goals could have been prevented. This should serve as a lesson. Games are played the entire 90 minutes until the referee blows the whistle,” he said.

Ngwira, on the other hand, was not happy with the officiating personnel.

“There were many decisions that went against us which were questionable. This frustrated our players,  but we held on and managed to level. But had it been that officiation was fair, we wouldn’t have struggled,” he said.

Wanderers lie sixth with 34 points from 19 matches while Dedza are eighth with 32 points from the same number of games played. In another match, Silver Strikers also came from behind to beat TN Stars 3-1 at Kasungu Stadium.

Nyasa Big Bullets, who were exempted because they played a CAF Champions League match against Simba SC on Saturday, lead with 52 points from 20 matches while second-placed Blue Eagles have 40 points from 19 games.

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