Fisd Wizards’s fate continues as Moyale trash Mafco

Malawi super league rookies Fisd Wizards’ days in the top flight continues to decline following their 2-1 defeat to Red Lions on Saturday afternoon at Balaka Stadium.

Peter Mponda’s boys are still anchoring the table with 11 points from 19 games in their debut season and faces an uphill task to survive from the chop.

Without their influential captain Levison Maganizo and goalkeeper Brighton Munthali who are with the Flames preparing for Sunday’s clash against Tanzania, Wizards were below par in the first half as they conceided an early goal from Lion’s Steve Ziba in the 9th minute.

The Soldiers were pressing harder no wonder they doubled their lead on 30th minute through Innocent Bokosi who released a thunderbolt just outside the penalty box, 2-0.

The hosts, who gave away a 2-nil lead in a similar fixture at Kamuzu Stadium, knew how important it was to score more goals as Kumbukani Mwambene, Ziba, Stainley Duwe all had several shots at goal in the half but the visitors goalie tried his level best to save his side from total humiliation.

Come second half, Wizards brought in Patrick Phiri who made an immediate impact as the visitors started playing their usual passing game in search for the much important goals.

The Soldiers were under siege as Keston Kasonda, Rafique Namwera, Dennis Chembezi and Mike Mkwate pressed harder in search for goals but Jacob Kaunda in goals for the hosts was very alert, making some stunning saves to frustrate the visitors.

Mkwate almost opened the scoreline for Mponda’s side when he dribbled past Red Lions defense only to miss the goal mouth with an inch.

Wizards continued playing fantastic football and this pressure payed off as Phiri reduced the arrears on 37th minute from a well taken free kick that caught Kaunda napping in his commanding area, 2-1.

At the other end, Mwambene had all the time in the World to completely wrap the game in Lion’s favor but his weaker shot was well saved by Wizards’s goalie.

With less than 3 minutes to go, Mkwate’s magic could have put the game on level. He once again dribbled past three Red Lions defenders before releasing a low cross drive at goal which managed to beat Kaunda only to miss the goal mouth with an inch, leaving Mponda in total disbelief and after 90 minutes of entertaining football, it ended 2-1 in favor of the Soldiers who have now moved up to 5th in the standings.

As for Wizards, they are still stuck at the bottom of the table and if they are to survive, they must find a winning formula in the next 9 games.

At Chitowe Stadium, Moyale Barracks taught Mafco FC some footballing lessons following an emphatic 3-nil victory over the Salima based Soldiers.

The result sees Mafco dropping to 4th position with 31 ppints from 19 games.

Bullets still lead the standings with 41 points from 17 games, 10 points behind second placed Silver Strikers with a game to play.