Silver survive KB scare
Kamuzu Barracks (KB) squandered a 2-0 lead to let TNM Super League leaders Silver Strikers secure a draw 2-2 in a league match played yesterday at Civo Stadium in Lilongwe.
Gregory Nachipo put the hosts, KB, in the lead after 19 minutes after taking advantage of a deflection in the box.
Three minutes later, they doubled the lead through Hope Namazunda’s goal after he was set up by Olson Kanjira.
KB went into recess with a 2-0 cushion. However, the visitors pulled one back three minutes into the second half through Stain Davie’s header following a well-floated cross from Zebron Kalima.
When their first defeat looked imminent, Silver then levelled the scores with just three minutes to full-time through a well-executed goal.
With the draw, Silver have maintained their unbeaten run and have a nine-point cushion at the top of the league table.
Silver coach Peter Mponda admitted in an interview it was a difficult game.
He said: “We nearly lost the game. We didn’t play the way we wanted, but I am proud of the players for a strong mentality and character.
“We came back and equalised in a difficult game. The players showed great character and the way we fought back is very encouraging. It was a great fighting spirit from the boys.”
His counterpart, Charles Kamanga wore a disappointed face after surrendering a good lead.
“We played well in the first half, but Silver came flat out to level. I think after the two goals, we let the guard down, thinking the game was done and dusted. It’s painful because we wanted to defeat Silver as they are the only unbeaten team. But it’s okay to at least get a point,” he said.
Kamuzu Barracks are third on the Super League table with 21 points from 12 matches while Mighty Mukuru Wanderers are second with the same points, but a superior goal aggregate.
At Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre, FCB Nyasa Bullets drew yet again against Civil Service United of Lilongwe.
The defending champions came from behind to cancel Blessings Malinda’s goal through Ernest Petro.
After a barren first half, the visitors stunned the hosts in the 53rd minute when Malinda raced with the ball to outpace Bullets defence before firing past Innocent Nyasulu.
But straight from restarting the match, Bullets levelled through Petro after he was fed by Anthony Nfune.
It was Bullets’ eighth draw this season which did not amuse coach Kallisto Pasuwa.
The Zimbabwean tactician said in post-match interview: “It’s now a concern. The best result we can hope for is a draw. We need to dig deeper in order for us to come back to winning ways. We played last week and we won 5-0. We came back in the league and the best we could get is a draw.”
“It was a tricky fixture, considering that we lost 3-0 to Mighty Mukuru Wanderers three weeks ago. But today the boys played according to instructions, no wonder we managed a point,” he said.
The result means Bullets are now on position six while Civil are 11th.
