Chande on target as Nomads beat Maxi Bullets

Be Forward Wanderers convincingly beat relegation threatened MTV Maxi Bullets 2-0 at Kamuzu Stadium on Wednesday to move up to tenth in the standings with 14 points from 9 games.

After exiting the 2016 Presidential Cup away to Moyale Barracks last week, the Nomads meant business as they swept aside Max Bullets who are yet to register a win in the top flight.

It was an exciting opening period in which both sides showed positivity and a will to go forward but it was the home side that took the leaf on the stroke of half time courtesy of Jimmy Zakazaka before Jafallie Chande’s easy finish to put the game beyond the visitors’s reach.

Isaac Kaliyati missed the Nomads’s best chance of the first half from about five yards, totally unmarked, slipping and skewing a shot straight at the upright when a goal looked easier.

At the other end, Frazer Menyani almost capitalized on a defensive relapse by the Nomads but he failed to connect well from a Mayeso Mphanje’s cross.

Robson Banda was taken off for the rookies who were desperately looking for goals.

But just seconds away from the half time whistle, the Lali Lubani boys got their opener in a spectacular fashion.

A corner by Kaliyati into the box had found Amos Bello who rose higher in the sky to head past Sipho Macheso in goals for the visitors only to be denied by the upright, allowing Zakazaka to score from the situation, 1-0.

Come second half, Nomads’ first goal scorer was substituted for Chande who made his mark just few minutes into the game.

A low drive shot from Bello forced Macheso to make a save only to see the ball landing into the path of Chande who made a simple finish to arouse the home fans, 2-0.

Richard Chipuwa, who returned to the Nomads from Mozambique, was on holiday as Max Bullets forwards failed to make any attempt at goal.

Bello missed another opportunity when he was set free to the left flank by Kaliyati only to fire wide from the close range.

Wachimwa Sadick was introduced by the visitors to try to calm the situation in defence as Wanderers continued to press harder in search for more goals.

Chande was again heavily involved as he played a clever give-and-go down the right channel before driving forward and picking out Luka Milanzi’s run with a pinpoint low cross, and the midfielder made a bad decision when he tried a long range shot that went wide off the goal mouth.

The visitors could not find a way to goal for the remainder of the match as the Nomads controlled possession to secure another important win that has taken them a point above cross-town rivals Big Bullets FC in the standings.

Wanderers’ next game is against resilient Azam Tigers at the same venue on Sunday. It was a day to remember for Chande who just returned from his compassionate leave.

As for the rookies, they are now winless in their 12 games hence anchoring the standings with just four points.