Mafco fail to go top, Nomads beat Epac
A painful 90th minute equaliser by Dwangwa United striker Hassan Upindi yesterday prevented Mafco from claiming the driving seat of the 16-team TNM Super League.
The Salima-based soldiers needed a win from the match at Chitowe ground in Nkhotakota to be leaders but the game ended in a two-all draw after Upindi slotted-in the late equaliser that stagnated Mafco on the third place with 45 points from 24 games.
Mafco are now tied on points with leaders Nyasa Big Bullets and second-placed Blue Eagles, who are better on goal difference. Bullets have so far played 25 games while Eagles have played 24. The three teams have 20, 16 and 15 goal differences, respectively.
At Chitowe, Vitumbiko Phiri put Mafco ahead before Dwangwa cancelled the lead through Cuthbert Senetre’s penalty. Richard Mbulu, who is the leading top scorer with 18 goals, restored Mafco’s lead deep in the second half before Upindi’s heart-breaking goal.
Another exciting match on Sunday was played at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre where Be Forward Wanderers thrashed visitors Epac FC 4-1.
However, the comfortable victory, their fifth in 10 second-round matches, made no impact on the standings as they remain sixth on the log table with 41 points from 25 games whereas Epac are stuck on the eighth place with 34 points from 26 games.
Wanderers’ hit-man Peter Wadabwa hit a brace to keep alive his hunt for the golden boot accolade as he is now at par with Nyasa Big Bullets’ striker Chiukepo Msowoya on 16 goals; two goals behind Mbulu. Joseph Kamwendo and Alfred Manyozo Junior struck the other goals. Chiletso Zoya scored Epac’s consolation goal.
“This is an excellent result. The boys put up a gallant fight and we are happy to have carried maximum points from this game,” said Wanderers team manager Steve Madeira.
On his part, Epac coach Audillow Makonyola, whose side plucked only a single point from possible six in the commercial city following a one-all draw with Tigers the previous day, accepted defeat.
“We did not play as a team today,” Makonyola said.
In other games, PremierBet Wizards and Red Lions earned 2-1 victories over Mzuni and Karonga United, respectively. n
