Wanderers move forward

Be Forward Wanderers beat Salima-based Mafco 4-3 through post-match penalty shoot-out to progress to the quarter-finals of the Standard Bank Cup in a match played on Thursday at Civo Stadium in Lilongwe.

Zasha Non’goneza was Mafco’s villain after his penalty hit the post and rebounded.

Jailos Kapalamula, Morris Chiumia and Paul Phiri scored their spot kicks for Mafco while Oswald Mkagula’s was saved.

Alfred Manyozo Junior, Stanley Sanudi, Mike Kaziputa and Victor Nyirenda scored for Nomads whereas Rafik Mussa missed.

Wanderers will now face Red Lions, another Malawi Defence Force (MDF) outfit, in the quarter-finals.

Despite Be Forward Wanderers dominating possession, it was Mafco who created the most and clear chances.

Mafco were always dangerous in counterattacks, but they failed to translate their chances into goals with Kalinda and Mgagula wasting six scoring opportunities.

Kalinda failed to slot the ball past an-out-of position Richard Chipuwa after he cleverly dodged Wanderers lastman Kondwani Lufeyo.

Kalinda fluffed another chance in a similar fashion 10 minutes before fulltime. He got the best of Bongani Kaipa to meet a well-timed long pass from Non’goneza, but failed to control it and Chipuwa rushed in to clear the danger.

Mafco finished the first-half with nine players after Paul Ndlovu was sent off for a reckless tackle on Chipuwa.

The second-half again saw Wanderers enjoying great possession, but like in the first-half, it was Mafco who created good chances.

Wanderers coach Elia Kananji was jubilant after the game.

“We are glad to have made it to the quarter-finals. Games like these are tough. We struggled, but we succeeded,” said Kananji after the game.

Mafco coach Thomas Maloya was a disappointed man.

“We didn’t deserve to lose. We could have won by decent margin. It is a painful loss,” said Maloya.