…Mafco’s good home run continues…
After 450 minutes of a winless run in the TNM Super League, FCB Nyasa Big Bullets finally returned to winning way with a comfortable 3-0 win over FOMO FC at Kamuzu Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.
It was a game that was shunned away by home supporters following Bullets’ recent run of poor results in the league.
But despite playing in an almost empty stadium, Kalisto Pasuwa’s men rose to the occasion with an important win to slightly keep their title hopes alive.
Maxwell Phodo opened the scoreline in the 14th minute with a powerful shot outside the penalty box to beat Richard Mtekateka to his near post, 1-0.
The lead should have been cut shot had it been Hassan Luwembe, FOMO’s dangerous striker, converted his chance inside the penalty box in the 16th minute, but he fired wide with the goal wide open.
Babatunde Adepoju added the second goal in the 40th minute when he connected well from Chikumbutso Salima’s well-taken corner kick, 2-0.
After the recess, Kalisto Pasuwa brought in Stanley Billiat for Crispin Mapemba who wasn’t at his level best in the opening half.
Phodo nearly doubled his tally in the 52nd minute when he exchanged passes with Billiat, but his shot missed Mtekateka’s left-hand post with an inch.
Gilbert Chirwa brought in Hassan Hussein, Wongani Gondwe, and, Arthur Kalondora for Duncain Mbewe, Hassan Luwembe, and Shukuran Mwawa while Anthony Mfune and Kenneth Pasuwa came in for Babatunde and Phodo.
It was a well-balanced affair, with Bullets threatening less than expected while FOMO kept on defending with maturity whenever under attack from the hosts.
Chirwa made his final substitutions when he brought in Madalitso Maso and Chitsanzo Saidi for Rashid Chiromo and Mike Banda.
Bullets completed their riot in the 70th minute through an excellent strike from Billiat who connected well from Gomezgani Chirwa’s delivery into the box, beating Mtekateka who was completely defenseless, 3-0.
With 75 minutes played, Kalondola had a chance to reduce the arrears but he sent his volley the wrong way to the disappointment of the visiting fans.
Pasuwa brought in Sean McBrams and Yankho Singo for Lloyd Aaron and Salima.
There wasn’t much action in the last 15 minutes of the match apart from Mfune’s injury that forced Bullets to finish the game with ten men as they had already run out of substitutes and in the end, Bullets collected all the points, their first league win since 18th May.
The move takes them to 20 points while FOMO, who suffered back-to-back defeats, sits in the 12th position with 14 points.
Elsewhere, substitute Chifundo Ngapenga was the hero of the day as his last-minute goal secured three points for Civil Service United over Creck Sporting Club.
George Chaomba gave the hosts a first-half lead but Muhammad Biyason levelled the scoreline in the second half.
Just when everyone thought the game was heading towards a draw, Ngapenga capitalized on a defensive mistake to inspire his side to a hard-fought 2-1 win and moved up in the table to 8th position with 18 points.
As for Creck, the defeat saw them drop out of the top four with 19 points. The two teams have played 12 games each.
At Chitowe, a strike each from Innocent Makawano and Auspicious Kadzongola inspired Mafco FC to a convincing 2-0 win over Karonga United.
The victory saw Stereo Gondwe’s men moving to position 7 with 19 points while their opponents are 11th with 15 points.
