Nomads fire blanks as Kb win Soldiers’ affair

Be Forward Wanderers’ 100 percent start to the season in the Super League came to an end on Sunday when they were held to a goalless draw by Azam Tigers at MDC Stadium in the city of Blantyre.

Before the match, the Blantyre based giants had 12 points from four games and would have leapfrogged Premier Bet Wizards at the top of the standings with a win but Tigers gave them a tough ride as they shared one point apiece.

This was the third time for the two teams to meet each other in the 2017 season, with the Nomads booting out Tigers in the just ended Airtel Knockout Cup by winning 3-1 on goal aggregate.

Wanderers created the first chance of the match through Peter Wadabwa whose effort was well saved by William Thole in goals for Tigers.

From there, the hosts were pressing harder in search for the much important opening goal but Tigers’ defence led by Clifton Kankhuni, Peter Cholopi, Bonda Mpinganjira and Martin Chongwe gave them no space as they kept on firing blanks.

At the other end, Kau Kau boys’ in form striker Luka Chima almost opened the scores when his solo effort was tipped over the crossbar by Nomads goalie Richard Chipuwa.

Yamikani Chester, who was part of Malawi’s squad which was booted out of the ongoing Cosafa Castle Cup in South Africa, made some runs into the box only to see Felix Zulu missing with an inch.

Come second half, Wanderers continued from where they stopped as they kept on pressurizing the visitors but Thole was equal to the task as he kept on keeping Tigers into the game with some fine saves.

The hosts were vulnerable in defence as Tigers launched a stunning counter hurricane attack only to miss the goal mouth with an inch.

Chester and Wadabwa combined well to release Zulu but again, their reserve product was too nervous to put the ball into the back of the net.

As the clock was ticking, Nomads fans were left in total disbelief as Joseph Kamwendo missed the closest opportunity, with others saying it was easier to score than to miss when he drifted his solo effort away from the goalmouth with the goalkeeper already beaten.

With the Nomads missing chance after chance, it was the turn of Tigers to test their opponents when Stain Pendame’s through ball found Chima unmarked to make a quick decision only to be denied by Chipuwa and after 90 minutes of play, goalless it ended.

The result sees Wanderers maintaining their third place with 13 points from 5 games while Tigers are fourth with the same number of points but have played 9 games.

In other matches, Super League defending champions put their brothers in arms Mafco FC to the sword as they recorded a 2-nil victory at Chitowe Stadium.

Harvey Nkacha and Kelvin Hanganda scored in each half to send Billy Phambala’s men on position 8 with 11 points from 7 games.

As for Mafco, their poor start to the season continues with yet another defeat at home.