Blantyre derby ends in stalemate

Chiukepo Msowoya’s 38th minute penalty was enough to help Nyasa Big Bullets share the spoils with their rivals Mighty Be forward Wanderers on Saturday afternoon at Kamuzu stadium.

Wanderers created several chances in the first half and Amos Bello expertly took one of them to put the Nomads in the lead.

They however rued the other missed chances as Msowoya scored from the spot to salvage a point for Bullets.

The Nomads started the match with Bester Phiri in goals: Boston Kabango, Stanley Sanudi, Ted Sumani, and Foster Namwera partnering in defence. Rafique Namwera, Francis Mlimbika, Rafique Mussa and Felix Zulu were operating the engine with Bello and Peter Wadabwa starting in front for the Nomads.

Bullets started the match with Ernest Kakhobwe in goals; Miracle Gabeya, John Lanjesi, Bashir Maunde, and Yamikani Fodya in defence; Dalitso Sailesi, Fisher Kondowe, Mac fallen Ngwira and George Nyirenda in midfield while Muhammad Sulumba partnered Chiukepo Msowoya upfront.

The match started on a slow note in the opening two minutes and both sides were boring to watch.

But it was the Nomads who started dominating possession in the 3rd minute as they were exchanging excellent passes in the middle of the pitch.

Bello went close to put the Nomads ahead in the first six minutes of the match but he was twice denied by Fodya’s last ditch clearances after the Bullets goalkeeper Ernest Kakhobwe had already been beaten.

A few minutes later, Fodya was Bullets’ saviour again when he cleared Peter Wadabwa’s shot in the 8th minute.

But the Lali Lubani boys took the lead on the 12th minute of the first half through Amos Bello who received a good pass from Sumani and it was 0-1 in favour of the Nomads.

Two minutes later Namwera could have doubled the Nomads’ lead but he lacked the scoring composure as he missed the target.

The Nomads kept on dominating possession and they could have scored again in the 29th minute when Mlimbika’s free kick was well connected by Wadabwa but his bullet header was saved by Kakhobwe.

As the first half was going towards the end, referee John Phiri awarded a penalty to Bullets after Zulu appeared to have handled the ball inside the Nomads box.

Msowoya stepped up for the challenge and made no mistake as he sent the Nomads goalkeeper the wrong way to make it one all at the end of the first half.

Come second half, both teams made changes as Wanderers brought in Isaac Kaliati in place of Zulu whereas Bullets substituted Kondowe and Maunde and replaced them with Mike Mkwate and Henry Kabichi.

The coming in of Mkwate and Kabichi was the turning point of the game as Bullets started attacking the Nomads goal and had a few chances but Sailesi and Sulumba lacked the scoring composure.

A few minutes later Kaliati could have put the Nomads ahead but his shot was cleared away by Lanjesi. On 72 minutes, Wadabwa had another chance to put the Nomads back into the lead but he blasted his shot over the bar.

Nine minutes later, Msowoya saw his bullet header well saved by Phiri.

With a minute to go before the final whistle, Mussa Manyenje was twice denied by the cross bar and the match ended one all.

After the match, Wanderers team manager Steve Madeira praised his boys for displaying a brilliant performance and earning a point against Bullets who have been dominating this fixture for the past 3 years.

On his part, Bullets coach Franco Ndawa said he was happy with the point.