FCB Nyasa Bullets’ TNM Super League title bid suffered a setback yesterday following a 2-0 loss to Moyale Barracks at Mzuzu Stadium thaat tightened the three-horse race for the ultimate prize.
As Bullets were seeing red in the Green City, Lilongwe-based reigning champions Silver Strikers kept their title defence hopes on the boil with a narrow 1-0 win over Blantyre-based rookies Ekhaya FC at Mpira Stadium in Chiwembe Townshipm in Blantyre.
Despite the loss, their sixth this season, the People’s Team still sit at the summit of the domestic top-flight, albeit temporarily.
Bullets are tied on 59 points with second-placed Wanderers, but Bullets have played 27 matches, one more than the Nomads and third-placed Silver, who trail the joint leaders by three points.
Wanderers have a chance to dislodge their arch-rivals this afternoon with a victory over Civil Service United at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.
Victory will see the Nomads win, go three points clear, a situation that could give the record 17-time champions plenty of food for thought in the run-in.
In a match monitored on Fifa +, Lameck Mithi, who was named player of the match, broke the hearts of the Bullets’ faithful with his brace at Mzuzu Stadium.
He drew first blood for the Malawi Defence Force (MDF) side in the 35th minute with a powerful header from a Chifundo Makawa’s well-curled cross.
Ten minutes later, Mithi returned to haunt Bullets again.
Like a sneak thief, he ghosted in to beat the visitors’ ill-conceived off-side trap before beating Chimbamba.
The enduring image was of Bullets coach Peter ‘Mjojo’ Mponda, who time and again, charged up and down the touchline, urging more effort from his charges.
He made a triple substitution at the start of the second-half, taking out Wongani Lungu, Frank Willard and Andrew Jovinala for Paul Master, Ephraim Kondowe and Yamikani Mologeni.
But most of the efforts were kept out by Moyale’s ‘keeper Jeremiah Simfukwe.
Following the victory, the Lions of Kaning’ina have moved a step up to 10th. They have 36 points from 27 matches and safe from relegation.
Moyale coach Pritchard Mwansa said he was excited with the win.
“Considering our position, I am very happy. The boys did very well, they worked very hard, played as a unit and it was a good performance, a victory well deserved,” he said.
On the other hand, Bullets assistant coach Gilbert Chirwa said they failed to utilise the chances they created.
On the team’s title chances following the defeat, he said: “We will keep on fighting, but for sure, we have made life difficult for ourselves.”
At Mpira Stadium, Emmanuel Allan struck the lone goal of the match in the seventh minute.
In another match, Blue Eagles beat MDF side Kamuzu Barracks (KB) 3-1 at Nankhaka ground in an all-Lilongwe affair.
Eagles got it over and done with by half time as they led 3-0 through goals from Webster Nzunda, Tonic Viyuyi and Laurent Banda while Zeliat Nkhoma netted the consolation goal for KB in added time.
