Nomads, Azam yet to win

Oct 24, 2015 Andrew Cane Chilapondwa Sports 106

Mighty Wanderers continues to struggle in the top flight following a 1-all draw to fellow strugglers Azam Tigers in the Malawi Super League in a match played on Saturday afternoon at Kamuzu Stadium.

Peter Katsonga had given the visitors a lead earlier in the first half but Alfred Manyozo put the game on level towards the end of the half.

Having dominated the opening 45 minutes, the Nomads were unlucky to score more goals as Tigers’s defense was caught napping in the line of duty on several occasions.

However, it was the visitors who took an early lead through Katsonga who scored from the spot following a foul on Yamikani Chester by Bongani Kaipa.

Zeal to replicate their good form in cup games, Wanderers pressed harder as Jabulani Linje, Victor Nyirenda and Mike Kaziputa all had their chances before the half-hour mark only to be denied by Nenani Juwaya in goals for the Kau Kau boys.

At the other end, Willy Saenda almost punished the Lali Lubani boys when his volley managed to beat Richard Chipuwa in goals for the hosts but not the woodwork.

A penalty shout from Linje was turned down by referee Ishmael Chizinga for a corner from which the Nomads got their leveler.

Kaziputa’s corner caught Tigers defence napping, allowing Manyozo to fly higher and head past defenseless Juwaya into the top corner, 1-1.

The Nomads were on fire as Linje proved to be a thorn in the fresh for Robin Alufandika’s boys but lacked the cutting age inside the penalty box.

Come second half, Wanderers failed to continue from where they stopped as Tigers closed down Kaziputa and Kaliyati in the wings. Kaliyati had all the time in the World to give his side a lead but his selfish desire failed to release Linje and Kaziputa who placed themselves in a very good position to snatch the much needed goal.

However, Bright Munthali kept on terrorizing the hosts’s defense when his low drive was saved for a corner by Chipuwa.

Few minutes later, Benard Harawa, who came in as a second half substitute, combined well with Saenda to release Chester who volleyed over the bar with Chipuwa already beaten.

At the other end, Linje combined well with Muhamad Sulumba, who was also introduced in the half but the former Blantyre United forward fired wide just outside the penalty box.

Tigers could have restored their lead when Katsonga’s powerful drive was tumbled by Chipuwa but Munthali failed to make a cool finish out of it as Nomads defense recovered in time to clear the danger away.

Linje was set through by Patrick Gunde in the added minutes but the former Civo Service United forward failed to connect the ball and after 90 minutes of play, it ended 1-1.

Speaking to the media after the final whistle, Technical Director for Tigers Robin Alufandika blamed some of the referees decisions as the reason why they failed to collect all the maximum points whilst Chiyembekezo Zidana for the Nomads admitted that it was a tough match but was quick to deny that his side are only concentrating on cups but not league matches. Munthali was named man of the match. The result means the two teams are yet to register a win in the second round of the league, with Wanderers collecting their first point from the four games they have played so far.