Flames disappoint again!

Another poor performance saw the Malawi national football team give away an initial lead in the first half to fall to visitors Guinea 1-2, to the dismay of the fans today at Kamuzu Stadium in the African Cup of Nations (Afcon) 2017 qualifiers.

Goals from Chiukepo Msowoya for the Flames and a brace from Muhammad Yattara were all that sealed the day in Blantyre.

The Flames needed to win the match to boost their chances but their counterparts did not come just to lose anyway.

It was the visitors that enjoyed the first twenty minutes as the Flames saw the tall Guineans enjoy more possession and playing pacey football that left the Flames making around the field.

The midfield battle between Chimango Kayira for the Flames and Idrissa Sylla for the visitors led off the teams to fail to feed their forwards as the Flames started with lethal strikers, Gabadihno Mhango and Msowoya.

Both strikers were safely placed in the bag of a strenuous looking full back for the National Elephants, Florenti Pogba, whose stamina received cheers from the Malawi fans and placed the forces by the strikers at bay.

After a hard fought thirty minutes the two teams had tested each other’s men in goals twice.

The home side saw an initial low slot by Mhango ruled offside just after the visitors keeper Yattara Mousaa had made an impressive save.

Flames keeper Brighton Munthali was forced to make a scintillating save after a thunderbolt from Ibrahima Traore just outside the center line, and earned him hand claps from the fans.

Midfield maestro John Banda beat Sylla on the center half before he was brought down by Michel Guy Landel.

A well taken free kick saw Msowoya’s powerful header beat Moussa at the nearest post to put the homeside ahead after 33 minutes.

After this the Flames kept playing good football with the heroic of youthful Isaac Kaliati, veteran Robert Ngambi, Chimango Kaira and Micium Mhone at the left frank for the Flames outdid Seydouba Soumah and Sylla at the midefield.

A Mhango goals after being fed by Mhone was disaloowed for an offiside as the forward left off the line from Pogba.

But Yattara netted for the visitors with just two minutes away to recess.

He capitalized on a defensive error for the Flames from a corner when he jumped higher than Harry Nyirenda and Stanley Sanudi to place the settle the scores.

In the second half coach Enerst Mtawali pulled out Mhango for Schumaker Kuwali while the visitors took out Alseny Camara  for Alhassane Bangoura.

Both sides maintained entertaining football with the Flames failing to beat tall Gunie defenders and Munthali making impressive saves in goals.

But in the 60th minutes Yattara netted again through a slot in from a corner after keeper Munthali had failed to parry away the through ball.

After this it was all a Guniea affair and Msowoya’s heroics upfront did not yield anything.

The coach pulled off Kaliati for his teammate Francis Mlimbika.

A low free kick by Limbikan Mzava minutes later after Msowoya was brought down just over the bar and this exposed how the Flames were busy looking for a goal.

There was nothing to write about after this time and the bringing in of Zicco Mkanda for a marvelous Mhone was not any means of salvation for the home side until the final whistle.

Coach Mtawali could not hide his disappointment over the display of his charges.

He said ” Am very let down I must say with the result. Its my hope that the team will come back strong in the net games”

His counterpart Fernandez Luis praised his boys more especially for coming from behind to seal the winner.

Luis said that the win is a boost for his side and said that Malawi did not attack a lot after they scored the first goal.

With the result, the Flames seat on position four with two points behind of league leaders Zimbabwe who have eight points and Guniea who have now moved to second ahead of Swaziland whome they have similar points with.

The Flames remain with two games- to play Zimbabwe who they lost 1-2 at home and Swaziland who they drew 2-all in Mbabane.