In a complete sheer of dominance, FCB Nyasa Big Bullets taught Creck Sporting Club some footballing lessons as they hammered them 4-1 at Kamuzu Stadium on Wednesday afternoon to move to the top of the TNM Super League standings.
As predicted, the People’s Team was in full control of possession and did more in attack than in their last encounter against the same opposition in the Airtel Top 8 Cup last Saturday.
FCB Nyasa Big Bullets maintained their perfect start to the 2025 TNM Super League campaign with a 4-1 hammering of Creck Sporting Club on Wednesday afternoon at Kamuzu Stadium.
This game came just three days after the two teams played out to a goalless draw in the Airtel Top 8 Cup quarterfinal first leg at the same venue, a match which was mostly dominated by Bullets who couldn’t break the defensive block in the entire minutes.
But on Wednesday, in front of a sizable crowd, Peter Mponda’s men showed the visitors no mercy to make it two out of two wins in the new campaign.
What happened…
Mponda made several changes to his team as he brought back Yamikani Mologeni and Babatunde Adepoju to his starting eleven for Hassan Kajoke and Henry Chiwaya.
Mike Mkwate was also handed his first start to the line-up since recovering from his horrific injury.
As for the visitors, Patrick Mupanzi, Ademola Ajibola, and Kondwani Chilembwe were the three changes that Joseph Kamwendo made for Stain Patrick, Frank Phiri and, Akuzike Lifa.
The first goal-scoring opportunity fell to the visitors from a set piece that was conceded by Chikumbutso Salima and was delivered into the box by Hadji Wali. But Mologeni was in the right place to make a clearance out of his box.
However, the ball landed favourably at Bayo Fatayo, who crossed it back into the box to meet George Chaomba, who fired straight at Innocent Nyasulu.
With 10 minutes played on the clock, it was now Bullets’ turn to attack. A cross from Molegeni found Babatunde unmarked inside the six-yard box, but his header missed the upright with just an inch.
The visitors came with the same defensive approach, which saw them frustrating Bullets last Saturday, but they had problems with Hadji Wali, who was struggling to contain Chikumbutso Salima in the offensive area.
Salima’s pace paid off in the 19th minute when he got the better of Wali before sending a brilliant pass to Wongani Lungu, who slotted the ball home from close range, 1-0.
This goal forced Joseph Kamwendo’s charges to switch to a more attacking formation, and for the next ten minutes, they made some good runs into the opponent’s half in search of the equalizer.
Sensing danger, Mponda brought in Frank Willard for Yankho Singo, who was leaving a very big vacuum in the middle of the field for the visitors to attack.
Twice, Chaomba and Fatayo tested Nyasulu in goal for Bullets, but the shot-stopper came out top with brilliant saves.
Kamwendo’s charges had another opportunity in the 33rd minute when Peter Godfrey’s first-time connection missed Nyasulu’s right-hand post with a small yard.
At the other end, Brighton Munthali came to Creck’s rescue in the 36th minute when he produced a save to deny Lungu from adding a second to his name. Once again, Salima was the architect of the offensive move through his excellent delivery into the box.
But the hosts couldn’t be denied further in the 40th minute when Mkwate set Babatunde through to the attacking box. The forward slotted the ball home past Munthali, who was completely defenceless, 2-0.
Kamwendo had to introduce Stain Patrick and Hassan Hussein for Patrick Mupanzi and Ademola Ajibola to try to close the gap between the hosts and the visitors in terms of attack.
After the recess, Mponda subbed Mkwate for Chawanangwa Gumbo.
It only took seven minutes for Bullets to extend the lead beyond Creck’s reach.
Gumbo, Mpokera, and Molegeni were all involved in the build-up to the goal as they released Lungu to the far right.
The attacking midfielder delivered an excellent low cross into the box that caught the visitors’s defence off guard. The ball landed straight at Salima, who hit it with power before bearing Munthali into the net, 3-0.
This goal motivated Bullets to push for more goals, and whenever in possession, Munthali was the victim as he was forced to deal with dangerous crosses from either Salima or Mologeni who were pressing with pace to pile more pressure on the Lilongwe-based side.
Bullets’ quest for another goal successfully came in the 57th minute. Chaomba lost the ball to Mpokera, who switched it to the left side where Salima was operating.
The lethal attacker once again dribbled past Wali before sending another inviting low cross into the box that found Mologeni unmarked, and the wing-attacker wasted no time by scoring into an empty net, 4-0.
Bullets brought in Hassan Kajoke and Maxwell Phodo for Babatunde and Lloyd Aaron.
The hosts were still pushing for more and almost made it five in the 68th minute when Gumbo made a brilliant run past three opposition defenders, but with Munthali already beaten, he lost the ball in the final third.
Bullets made their last substitution in the 73rd minute when Salima suffered a cut to his head. He was replaced by Sean McBrams, who made his first appearance in the new campaign.
The visitors were given relief in the 76th minute when referee Gift Chicco awarded them a freekick on the edge of the penalty box. But Frank Phiri fired straight at Nyasulu.
In the last ten minutes of the match, McBrams created two goal-scoring opportunities, but the winger fired wide from close.
In the additional minutes, the visitors pulled one back through Kondwani Chilembwe, who capitalised from an error from the midfield, 4-1.
In the end, Mponda’s men recorded their second victory from the two league matches played to start the new campaign on a positive note.
What it means…
This means Bullets are topping the standing with six points, level with Mighty Wanderers, Ekhaya FC, Moyale Barracks, and Karonga United, but the People’s Team has a superior goal difference, having scored five and conceded one.
Pictures courtesy of Bullets Media
