Eagles fall
It is over. Silver Strikers on Sunday brought Blue Eagles’ remarkable 100 percent start to the TNM Super League to a heart-breaking end with a 2-1 win at Silver Stadium in Lilongwe.
The defeat, at the hands of an inspired Bankers’ side, was also a sweet revenge coming just days after Eagles booted out Silver from the Presidential Cup through post-match penalties.
Despite the loss, the Lilongwe-based cops still sit at the summit of the table with 18 points—four clear of second-placed Mafco.
Silver are now fourth with 13 points from seven games just like third-placed Nyasa Big Bullets. The two teams are separated by goal difference.
Eagles coach Deklerk Msakakuona admitted being out played.
“I congratulate them [Silver] for winning. They created chances and scored. It is disappointing that our winning run has been halted, but we will recover, “ he said.
His Silver counterpart Lovemore Fazili attributed the win to positive mentality.
“We had a positive attitude. We wanted to win and we attacked more. We deserved to win, it was a great performance,“ he said.
The encounter at the packed Silver arena started with tempers flying as hard tackles characterised play but as the game wore on, sanity reigned.
Mathews Sibale gave the hosts the lead with just five minutes before recess.
The goal resulted from a free kick taken by Timothy Chitedze outside Eagles’ 18-yard and Sibale ghosted in to head the ball home.
The hosts dominated the early stages of the second half with Chitedze, Thuso Paipi and Sibale.
They deservedly got the second goal in the 67th minute when Paipi’s curved shot escaped the attention of defenders and went past Soko into the bottom corner of the net.
Sensing danger, Eagles made a substitution when they took off Dan Phiri for Wister Phiri.
Immediately after his introduction Phiri won the ball on the left flank and curled the ball inside Eagles’ goal area and Gio Banda connected the ball past Munthali to make it 2-1.
The goal rejuvenated the visitors and they went into attack mode as Silver defended deep and 2-1 it ended.
In Mzuzu, Be Forward Wanderers were held to a goalless draw by rookies Karonga United. The Nomads are still 10th on the standings with seven points from six games having won one, drawn four and lost once. Karonga still anchor the table with a point from two games.
Azam Tigers beat Mzuni 2-0 at Kamuzu Stadium. Tigers are now sixth with 11 points from six games.
Wizards FC and Red Lions also registered 2-0 victories over Max Bullets and Dwangwa United respectively. n
