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Bullets survive Eagles blues

Blue Eagles maintained top spot on Match Day Four of the 2022 TNM Super League after holding Nyasa Big Bullets at Nankhaka Stadium in Lilongwe yesterday.

Blue Eagles have 10 points from four games while the defending champions Bullets moved second with seven points from three games and rookies Dedza Dynamos are third with seven points from three games as well.

At Nankhaka Ground, a Junior Malidadi header from a Schumacher Kuwali cross in the 14th minute, gave the hosts the lead.

But Bullets equalised three minutes later after the hosts conceded a penalty in the box. Nigerian striker Babatunde Adepoju sent former Silver Strikers goalkeeper Brighton Munthali the wrong way.

Kuwali messed up a golden chance just before half-time when he volleyed over the crossbar after Gaddie Chirwa passed the ball to him in the 18-yard box.

A full capacity crowd came to watch the high billed fixture with red and white colours dominating the terraces and the action on the pitch did not disappoint either.

The hosts threatened just after three minutes, forcing Bullets to concede a corner kick but nothing came of it.

Two minutes later, Sankhani Mkandawire nearly gifted his former team when he lost possession outside the box, but Bullets forward Lanjesi Nkhoma and Babatunde were seconds late to pounce on the opportunity.

There were lots of duels between Mkandawire and his former teammate Babatunde.

Bullets could have easily taken the lead after 15 minutes when Lanjesi Nkhoma was fouled in a dangerous spot, but Babatunde headed wide from a Precious Sambani well bent freekick.

Lanjesi was felled again outside the box, but Henry Kabichi shot wide from the resultant setpiece.

The second half saw Eagles dominating the first 15 minutes and Richard Chimbamba rescued his team on a couple of occasions with some fine saves from Junior Malidadi and Kuwali efforts.

Eagles coach Elia Kananji applauded his charges, but claimed the officiation let them down.

Said the former Bullets coach: “It was a big game and the result is not bad. I must applaud my players. They executed a game-plan well to shut out Bullets advances.

“But we were let down by the officiation. I think we were denied a penalty when there was a handball in the box, but he didn’t give it. I am not saying the referee was biased, but he was incompetent and even Bullets felt it.”

His counterpart, Kallisto Pasuwa said he was disappointed with his team’s performance.

“We could have done much better. It is high time we started getting points when playing away. The performance was not exactly what we wanted. But a point away is not bad,” he said.

In other results, rookies Sable Farming beat Red Lions 2-0, Moyale Barracks lost 1-0 at home to Mighty Wanderers. Rumphi United saw off Mighty Tigers 3-0 while Karonga United fell 2-0 to Silver Strikers.

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