Stewart Mbunge’s second half strike was enough to help Blue Eagles beat Be Forward Wanderers 2-1 at Nankhaka stadium on Thursday afternoon as the Area 30 cops claimed top position in the Tnm Super League and dented the visitor’s title hopes.
The Nomads coach Yasin Osman only made one change to the side that beat Blue Eagles 1 nil in the Fisd challenge cup semifinals four days ago with Rafiq Namwera replacing the suspended Alfred Manyozo.
The match started on an impressive note as both teams were hunting for goals in the opening stages .
The first notable chance of the match came in the 17th minute when the Nomads defence was caught napping in the line of duty but the Nomads goal minder Valence Kanzere produced a stunning save to prevent his side from conceding a goal.
Midway through the first half Jabulani Linje put the Nomads ahead when he tapped in Bongani Kaipa’s throw in and it was 1 nil in favour of the Nomads.
A few minutes later Blue Eagles striker Maxwell Salambula cancelled out Linje’s opener after the Nomads defense led by Foster Namwera, Ted Suman, Stanley Sanudi and Kaipa was caught napping.
After that goal, both Blue Eagles and Be forward Wanderers kept on demonstrating good football but they all defended well and the first half ended 1 all.
After recess both coaches made a few changes to their teams with the Nomads bringing in Felix Zulu and Khumbo Ng’ambi on the places of Jimmy Zakazaka and Linje whereas Blue Eagles coach brought in Mbunge.
The second half also started on a fast pace and it was Blue Eagles who started dominating the proceedings first as they kept on putting the Nomads defense on pressure.
65 minutes into the match the Nomads started building strong momentum when their midfield led by Joseph Kamwendo, Rafique Namwera, Mike Kaziputa and Felix Zulu started ticking but Wadabwa and Khumbo Ng’ambi lacked the killer punch and they were outshined by Blue Eagles goalkeeper John Soko.
As the game was going towards the end and every one thought the game was going to end in a draw Mbunge scored Eagles’ second to end the Nomads hopes of winning this season’s league.
After that goal the Nomads dominated the proceedings as they were in search for their equaliser but Blue Eagles defense led by Steve Chagoma, Osward Maonga and Akim Kazombo defended jealously and the match ended 2-1 in favour of the area 30 cops.
The win means Blue Eagles have moved to position one on the table with 48 points from 25 matches whereas the loss has left the Nomads 6th on the table.
Speaking after the match, Wanderers team manager Steve Madeira said the referee played a role in the Nomads’ defeat as he denied them a penalty.
Whereas his opposite number Gabriel Chirwa was happy with the win and thanked his boys for the win.
Eish team yanga idzatenga liti superleague, any way we still behind you. Nw concentrate on fisdcup as we r cup specialist.