Bullets edging closer to league title

Chiukepo Msowoya, Mussa Manyenje and Niyikiza Aimabre inspired Malawi league leaders Big Bullets to an emphatic 3-1 victory over Moyale Barracks in a league match played at Kamuzu Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Bullets were looking to return to winning ways following their back to back defeats to Civo Service United and Airborne Rangers in a cup and league match respectively.

The hosts welcomed back Sankhani Mkandawire from a lengthy injury to cover for his position as Bullets returned back to a 3-5-2 formation.

The Soldiers launched an attack in the opening five minutes as Dan Katunga’s volley was cleared by Mkandawire before crossing the line.

Msowoya had his first shot on target when he forced Juma Chikwenga in goals for the visitors into making a decent save.

Nevertheless, Msowoya, who was lively on the day, broke the deadlock with a thunderous volley from the edge of the box to beat Chikwenga hands down.

Few minutes later, Manyenje made in 2-nil when Timothy Nyirenda’s back-pass landed safely in the path of Bullets striker who made no mistake but to score into an empty net, 2-0.

The hosts were on fire as Jafali Chande and Dalitso Sailesi combined brilliantly inside the box, before the latter shot straight at Chikwenga.

Just few minutes from the interval, the visitors introduced Deus Mkutu for ineffective Katunga and immediately after coming in, he reduced the arrears when Chimwemwe Kumkwawa tumbled the ball, allowing the forward to make a cool finish, 2-1.

Come second half, Manyenje could have sealed the game for Bullets but he shot straight at Chikwenga when he was one-on-one with the shot-stopper.

Bullets then introduced Jellesi Lufeyo and Dave Ng’ambi  whilst Nchopwicho Njewa and Crispin Fukizi came in for the visiting Soldiers.

But Moyale’s dream of a come back was dealt a massive blow when defender Nyirenda was given his marching orders following a second bookable offence.

Despite playing with ten men on the field, Moyale played with passion as Bullets defense was caught napping in the line of duty on several occasions but Mkutu and co lacked finishing composure in front of goals.

Chikwenga made a great save to deny Chande after the Bullets forward did well to lose his marker before connecting with a Msowoya pass.

At the other end, Mkutu wasted a golden opportunity when he fired wide instead of releasing Khuda Robert Simkonda who placed himself in a good position to slot the ball home.

Five minutes from time, Bullets brought in Aimabre for Chande and the former Mzuni FC strikers made no mistake as he made a cool finish from a Msowoya pass to completely burry Moyale Barracks’s hopes of making a come back into the additional minutes and after the final whistle, it ended 3-1 in favor of the current defending league champions.

The result sees Bullets extending their lead at the top to 44 points from 19 games whilst Moyale Barracks has managed to collect 3 points from possible 6 in their two away assignments.

Sankhani Mkandawire was named man of the match.

In other matches, Mafco FC got the better of Dedza Young Soccer at Dedza Stadium courtesy of a Maurice Chiumia’s strike to dislodge Silver Strikers in the second position with 37 points from 21 games.