Silver Strikers retained their second position in the TNM Super League with a hard fought 1-nil victory over Azam Tigers at Silver Stadium on Monday afternoon to cut Be Forward Wanderers’ lead to just five points.
Before kickoff, the match had to be delayed for more than 30 minutes when the visiting side refused to go ahead after an assault on their bus driver by some alleged home supporter during the warm up session.
However, the match went ahead following an intervention from Super League of Malawi (Sulom) officials and it only took less than 15 minutes for the home team to break the deadlock in a controversial way through Binwel Katinji who was coming from an offside position but the first assistant referee’s flag was down, allowing the home team to find the back of the net.
The visitors looked the better of the two sides in the early exchanges of the clash, with Luke Chima’s header cleared by Chisomo Mpachika after Brighton Munthali was well beaten in an aerial combat.
Moments later, Victor Limbani missed Silver’s glorious opportunity when he was set through by Young Chimodzi Junior only to drive his effort wide off Tigers’ goal posts.
The Bankers kept on knocking and were very unfortunate not to open their account on the day when William Thole produced a stunning save to deny Timothy Chitedze from scoring from 30 yards out for a corner.
However, the home team could not be denied this time around when Katinji found himself unmarked, in a position where Tigers players thought he was offside, to score past Thole, 1-0.
Tigers almost responded moments later through a stunning counter hurricane attack which saw Dan Kumwenda’s cross into the box handled by Helbert Wayekha but the referee waved play on to the disappointment of the visitors.
Come second half, the Bankers were more defensive as they opted to defend their slender lead, inviting pressure from Tigers who were denied by incredible goalkeeping from Munthali.
Tigers emerged an even more determined side, with Chima guiding a trademark thunderbolt onto the woodwork from 30 yards, with Munthali well beaten.
Tigers then squandered another chance to level the score line through Bernard Palanda when he blasted his effort over the cross bar with Silver’s defence caught napping in the line of duty.
The Bankers saw out the rest of the game with relative ease as they gave their title push a massive shot in the arm.
The result takes them above Bullets but they are still 5 points adrift of leaders Wanderers ahead of a crucial week in the top flight.
As for the visitors, their Central Region outing was not successful after just collecting a point out of the possible six.
Bravo mabanker keep it up. Timakunyadirani!!!!