Nomads cruise into top four

A second half strike from Jabulani Linje was enough to see Mighty Wanderers getting the better of Red Lions in a league match played at Kamuzu Stadium on Thursday afternoon.

The victory was enough to see the Lali Lubani boys finishing 4th in the standings despite starting the second round on a very disappointing note.

Coming straight from their wins last week against Fisd Wizards and Kamuzu Barracks respectively, it was a matter of battling it out for a top four and six finish as the league was already wrapped up by Big Bullets some weeks ago.

On the field of play, the first half was dull as players failed to display brilliant football due to a water logged artificial turf.

Golden boot chaser and the current top goal scorer in the top flight Innocent Bokosi had his goal disallowed for a foul by the officiating personnel.

Muhamad Sulumba created the most realistic chance for the Nomads but he fired wide before missing another chance from a close range.

The visitors’s shot-stopper Clement Mlombwa was forced into action when he produced a fantastic save to deny Ibrahim Sadick from finding the back of the net.

At the other end, Chikoti Chirwa saw his free kick well blocked by the Nomads defence before firing wide from the rebound and after 45 minutes of play, it was goalless.

Nomads fans wanted to manhandle the officiating personell saying their decisions were against the blue side but the Police officers were able to calm the situation.

Come second half, the hosts increased their pace, with Sulumba outsmarting the visitors’s defence but lacked the cutting edge inside the penalty box.

Mlombwa was again forced into action when he denied Sadick from scoring through a free kick before producing another save to deny the former Epac FC wide man from giving his side a deserved lead.

However, Mlombwa’s stubbornness could not last longer as Linje made a cool finish past the shot-stopper from a Sulumba’s thunderbolt, 1-0.

Few minutes later, Linje failed to double his tally when he was set through by Isaac Kaliyati only to see his shot missing the goal mouth with an inch.

Red Lions then settled in very quickly in order to find the equalizer with Bokosi failing to score from a close range when he was released by Steve Ziba.

Minutes later, Chirwa threatened the Nomads goal with a 35 metre volley but Peter Munthali produced a fantastic save to deny the Soldiers from leveling the scoreline.

Wanderers were leaving dangerously as Lions pressed harder in search for the much needed goals no wonder Munthali was the busiest shot-stopper in the half as he was called into action more often than his opposite number.

Benesi Kaisi saw his header cleared by the Nomads defence before crossing the line. At the other end, Kaliyati found Mapopa Kaunda who came in for Linje towards the end of the match but the forward was brought down outside the penalty box before pulling the trigger.

The visitors pressed harder, with Bokosi having chances but without reward and after 90 minutes of play, it ended 1-nil in favor of the Lali Luban boys who have now finished 4th with 45 points from 28 games, a point above Silver Strikers who have finished on 5th position following a 1-all draw at home to Azam Tigers.

Speaking after the final whistle, Nomads mentor Eliya Kananji hailed his boys for finishing the season on a very high note whilst his opposite number Prichard Mwansa blamed the loss on some of the decisions made by the officiating person.

The result sees Red Lions finishing on 7th position and in the process, missing out on an automatic Standard Bank Knockout Cup qualification.

Kaliyati was named man of the match.