After suffering two embarrassing defeats to Nyasa Big Bullets in Super League and Carlsberg Cup, Red Lions were expected to stiffen the upper lip when the two sides clashed at Balaka Stadium on Saturday.
However, it was never to be as the Zomba-based Malawi Defence Force (MDF) outfit was condemned to a third consecutive loss, thanks to striker Chiukepo Msowoya’s 60th minute goal.
A goalless first-half saw the two sides going into the second-half with a more attacking mentality.
But it was Bullets who were more organised and purposeful as they made incursion into the enemy territory through Msowoya, Mussa Manyenje, Fischer Kondowe and Mike Mkwate.
The home side, Red Lions, survived the onslaught only to succumb in the 60th minute when Chiukepo glanced in a telling cross behind Lions defence from Manyenje, beating Lions goalkeeper Brighton Ngwenyama.
Lions assistant coach Pritchard Mwansa bemoaned the team’s performance in post-match interview.
He said: “It’s really painful to lose to Bullets again. We tried our best and made one mistake and Bullets scored. We tried to come back into the game, but we failed. We need to polish up our performance. We are creating chances, but we can’t score.”
Bullets assistant coach Elia Kananji said their mission is on track as they take each game as it comes.
“It was a difficult game. We told the players that after beating Red Lions twice, they will come hard on us. It’s good that we have managed to collect maximum points again,” he said.
Bullets are still third on the log table, but they have cut the difference between them and leaders Be Forward Wanderers to four points and three points adrift of second-placed Silver Strikers.
Sunday, the Nomads face Blantyre United at Chilomoni Stadium while the Bankers are playing away to Masters Security at Dedza Stadium.
In other matches played on Saturday, Azam Tigers and Dwangwa United settled for a goalless draw while Civil Sporting were held one-all by Mzuzu University (Mzuni).
Civil scored through Fletcher Bandawe while Chisomo Gillioni scored for the students.
