Silver, Red Lions match ends in controversy
Silver Strikers and Red Lions match at Silver Stadium in Lilongwe yesterday ended prematurely in the 80th minute as Red Lions players protested a penalty against them.
In a post-match interview yesterday, Red Lions coach Alick Chirwa said the referee’s decision to award a penalty to Silver was wrong.
He said: “We could not continue with the game because the penalty that was awarded to Silver was questionable. Our defender was fouled and we deserved a freekick.
“However, the referee ended up giving Silver a penalty. We are told that Silver paid the referee and we could not accept to continue with the game.”
On the other hand, Silver assistant coach McDonald Mtetemera said the referee’s decision was correct.
“It was a clear handball. We deserved the penalty. We are surprised that our counterparts walked out of the pitch. We will wait on what Super League of Malawi will decide otherwise the penalty was a true reflection of what happened,” he said.
Silver are leading the 16-team TNM Super League log table with 39 points from 18 games while Red Lions are on position nine with 24 points from 17 games.
In another match, Mighty Wanderers saw off TN Stars at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre. A Misheck Bottoman second half striker was enough for the Nomads to collects maximum points.
The Nomads should have won with a wider margin, but they missed many scoring opportunities, including a penalty by Vitumbiko Kumwenda.
Wanderers coach Bob Mpinganjira said collecting maximum points was good enough despite missing a penalty.
“It was a good game. But we need to work on utilising our chances,” he said.
At Civo Stadium, Karonga United beat Civil Service United 1-0 through a Chripin Mhangama’s goal.
The win takes them to fifth with 30 points from 18 games. Civo are sixth with 29 points from 18 games.
At Mzuzu Stadium, Chitipa United held Moyale Barracks to a goalless draw.
Moyale assistant coach Pritchard Mwansa blamed the draw on poor officiation.
“We played very well. However, we could not earn the win because the referees was favouring Chitipa United,” he claimed.
On the other hand, Chitipa United coach Christopher Nyambose said it was not a bad result. “Collecting one point away is not bad. The boys have done well. We look forward to our next game against Mzuzu Warriors tomorrow [today],”he said.
Moyale are seventh with 26 points from 18 games while Chitipa are on position 13th with 17 points from also18 games.
