KB returns empty handed as Tigers, Moyale Barracks share spoils

Ibrahim Sadick scored one of the rarest goals as his corner kick went straight into the net to inspire Blantyre United to a 2-1 victory over defending Super League champions Kamuzu Barracks.

The second goal was scored by second half substitute Rafiq Juma as United collected three points at Chilomoni Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The hosts were coming from a 2-1 defeat to Dwangwa United last week while the visitors were coming from a 1-nil loss to Nyasa Big Bullets on Saturday.

The soldiers were without Harvey Nkacha who suffered an injury during Saturday’s defeat and his absence was felt when KB found themselves 1-nil down just after the half hour mark.

The hosts got off to a flying start when Taonga Madenga tested Lemani Nthala in goals for the defending league champions with a low drive but the shot-stopper was equal to the task.

At the other end, Aubrey Chafewa had to rescue the hosts when he cleared a Kelvin Hanganda’s header after goalkeeper Christopher Mikuwa was caught napping in the line of duty.

With 30 minutes gone on the clock, the hosts finally broke the deadlock.

Sadick’s ball from a corner went straight into the net beating Nthala who should have done better to prevent the ball from hitting the back of the net, 1-0.

From there, the rookies showed no sign of taking their foot off the gas in the same half as they continued to pile more pressure on the visitors who were just very lucky not to concede more goals.

Brown Mizeyi had his moment of madness when he wasted his closest opportunity on the day after being found unmarked in KB’s half only to fire straight at the advanced Nthala.

In the second half, Blantyre United kept on winning more possession but lacked the cutting edge inside the penalty box as they kept on squandering chance after chance.

However, pressure mounted on the hosts when Dave Banda’s thunderbolt was saved by Mikuwa for a corner which paid no dividend as Hanganda failed to tap in the ball from a close range.

The hosts had to bring Antony Kaipa for the injured Mayamiko Chimpweya.

With less than 25 minutes to play on the clock, Blantyre United had Mikuwa to thank for keeping them a goal ahead after the goalkeeper first got down well to deny Hanganda before showing firm gloves to hold on to Gift M’bwana’s rasping drive.

Moments later, the hosts got lucky again when Kaipa cleared out the ball before crossing the line when Mikuwa was completely beaten in the line of duty.

Referee Dennis Ngulube then added seven minutes to his watch and it was in the additional minutes when the hosts wrapped up the day in style.

A back pass from Vincent Mphepo to his goalkeeper Nthala caught the latter napping and he lost possession to substitute Juma who fired straight into the net leaving the visitors frustrated.

However, the defending league champions reduced the arrears to make it 2-1 courtesy of Hanganda’s tap in but it was too little too late as the rookies registered their second win in 10 games to take their tally to 7 points.

As for the soldiers, their hopes of defending the league are slowly fading as they have donated six points in their southern region outing in week 10 of the top flight football.

At Nchalo Stadium, Azam Tigers had themselves to blame after failing to collect maximum points over Moyale Barracks when defender Bonda Mpinganjira missed from the spot with less than 15 minutes to play on the clock.

Deus Mkutu had earlier on given the Kaning’ina based soldiers a lead before Dan Kumwenda’s leveller in the same half.

The hosts then had more possession and their hardworking spirit seemed to have paid dividends when Moyale’s goalkeeper Juma Chikwenga brought down Kumwenda in the box to leave the referee with no choice but to award the Blantyre based side the spot kick.

Mpinganjira was given the task to put the ball into the net but he fired over the cross bar to disappoint the entire Kau Kau family.

The result sees Tigers dropping to 7^th with 14 points from ten games while Moyale are now 2^nd with 17 points from nine games played so far.