Group D wide open
Match Day Two results last night threw Group D of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers wide open as all the four teams closed with three points each and only separated by goal difference.
Malawi fell to an added-on time goal away to Guinea in Conakry while Ethiopia beat Egypt 2-0 at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe, their ‘adopted’ home ground.
The Flames are now second after they failed to end their away jinx in West Africa while Guinea are third. Egypt anchor the group.
In yesterday’s match monitored on Malawi Broadcasting Corporation television, Malawi held their hosts in regulation time, but lost concentration in added on time and allowed Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita to ghost in the winner in the 92nd minute.
The loss to Guinea was self-inflicted as the Flames seemed to have resorted to defend and did not threaten Guinea goal area.
Coach Mario Marinica maintained the first XI that beat Ethiopia 2-1 last Sunday with Charles Thom in goals.
Dennis Chembezi and Lawrence Chaziya were played in central defence with right back Stanley Sanudi and left back Gomezgani Chirwa.
The Romanian also maintained the combination of John CJ Banda, Chimwemwe Idana and Gerald Phiri Jnr in midfield as well as Frank Gabadinho Mhango, Stein Davie and Khuda Myaba upfront.
While the combinations were effective against Ethiopia, yesterday the game plan backfired against towering Guinea players who were rarely troubled by the Flames’ long balls into their area.
Though the two sides were tied 0-0 at half time, the Flames performance showed that the night could end in tears.
At half-time, Marinica brought in Alick Lungu in place of Sanudi while Micium Mhone replaced Myaba.
Yamikani Chester later came in for Davie, but there was little improvement.
The hosts, on the other hand, maintained their tactical discipline and upped their game after recess as they desperately needed full points to revive their campaign.
Just at a time when Malawi needed concetration, Mhango lost possession and a well-executed build-up from the back through the midfield allowed Keita to bury the winner, a minute into six minutes of added on time.
The Flames were outplayed in all departments with meagre 27 parent ball possession having completed just 181 passes against Guinea’s 73 percent goal possession and 495 passes.
They lacked accuracy in their passes as they only had 53 percent while Guinea had 82 percent accuracy.
They had no shot on target in their five attempts at goal while Guinea had two out of their 13 attempts at goal.
Coach Marinica acknowledged that the Flames were a shadow of themselves.
He said: “We did not play the way we wanted. The game plan was not respected that much.”
On Sunday, Malawi beat Ethiopia 2-1 in Lilongwe while Egypt outclassed Guinea 1-0 in Cairo. n
