Saizi trims Silver to size

Robert Saizi was the centrepiece of Bangwe All Stars’ 3-2 victory over Silver Strikers in a TNM Super League match with a brace that had all the hallmarks of art at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre yesterday.

In a match monitored on Mpira TV, the Central Bankers were left searching their soul when they missed a chance to go top of the table.

They remain fourth on the log table with 32 points from 18 matches, two behind leaders FCB Nyasa Bullets who have a game in hand.

The Flames rookie midfielder drew first blood for Bangwe in the 28th minute with a simple, but classic finish.

The beauty of it lay in the creation after Silver defender Maxwell Paipi needlessly lost possession to Emmanuel Savieli, who in turn, found Friday Osagie with a pass that oozed class.

 Osagie then  played it in the path of the unmarked Saizi in the six-yard box to do the rest to perfection with a cool finish.

No panic, no fuss.

The Bangwe Township-based outfit doubled the lead in the 45th minute through yet another beauty, direct from a Yamikani Mologeni free-kick which gave Silver goalkeeper Charles Thom no chance.

But after some half-time pep talk, the visitors were a rejuvenated side in the second half and reduced the arrears through  Adiel Kaduya’s volley in the 60th minute.

The goal buoyed the Central Bankers who drew level two minutes later when striker Atusaye Nyondo swung up-field to head home  Chinsinsi Maonga’s well-curled cross.

Cometh the 90th minute, cometh the man.

Saizi, who was fittingly named player-of-the-match, connected the ball home from close range with Silver’s rearguard caught napping.

It was game over!

In a post-match interview, Silver coach Pieter de Jongh said they could have avoided the two goals they conceded in the first half.

He said: “The first goal was a stupid mistake, an early Christmas gift.

“The second, from a free-kick, was debatable, I am not sure whether it was worth it.”

On the other hand, Bangwe’s new coach Abel Mkandawire said: “We played well in the first- half in which we scored two goals, but we kind of relaxed in the second half and Silver equalised.

“But we urged the players to fight on and it worked as we got that late winner.”

In other matches, Karonga United thumped Ekwendeni  Hammers 4-1 while Extreme FC beat Mafco FC 2-1.