Babatunde lone strike downs Karonga


Mighty Be Forward Wanderers returned to winning ways after edging out Karonga United 1-0 in a TNM Super League match played at the Karonga Stadium yesterday.

The drub encounter which was characterized by a lack of goal scoring opportunities was settled by Babatunde Adibaju with his solitary strike in the first half.

The win lifted the struggling Be Forward Wanderers up to 9th in the log table with 6 points from 3 matches while Karonga dropped to 10th with the same number of points.

The match began on a cagey note as both sides struggled to find a rhythm to their play.

The first chance of note didn’t arrive till the 19th minute but Fransisco Madinga’s effort was brilliantly saved by the Karonga United goalkeeper Lloyd Munthali.

The hosts had their first sight at goal in the 28th minute but Aziz Mwakifuna shot tamely wide when in good position.

As the first half went on, the Blantyre based giants began to impose themselves on the match with their pressing in the midfield as the hosts were forced to retreat in their own half.

In the 35th minute Wanderers were finally rewarded for their pressure as Adibaju Babatunde capitalized on a defensive mistake to ruthlessly fire past a helpless Munthali in goal.

In the second half, Karonga United made a lively start as they unsettled the away side with their intricate one touch football but Gule Mwaisope and Victor Lungo both fired over with their half chances.

Despite the home side exerting all of the pressure, the visitors looked a threat on the counter attack and Francis Mkonda and Vincent Nyangulu both missed chances to double the Nomads lead.

Dan Dzinkambani introduced Misheck Silimani and Khumbo Msowoya from the bench to add more firepower to the attack but despite the changes Wanderers’ defence stood firm to the barrage of the hosts’ attacks and hanged on comfortably to the win.

Speaking in a post-match interview, Be Forward Wonderers Team Manager Steve Madeira, said he was pleased that they have managed to end their losing run.

“It wasn’t a pretty game to watch but the important thing was the three points which we got,” said a relieved Madeira.

However, Karonga united tactician Dan Dzinkambani, has bemoaned his side’s defending in the defeat.

“Our defending for the goal was shocking, at this level you can’t afford to just gift goals away but we did and we were punished for it,” said a frustrated Dzinkambani.

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