Nomads defeat Red Lions
There was just too many Mighty Wanderers’ nyerere (ants) plastered all over wet Kamuzu Stadium terraces for visiting Red Lions to swallow—they ended up choking to death on a rainy Saturday afternoon..
As the Lions roared in vain in the TNM Super League second-round duel, Joseph Kamwendo invented the opener by Victor Mpinganjira then the former earned a second freak goal.
With the two goals, Wanderers had cast out demons to climb fourth on the TNM Super League log table on 38 points. An inferior aggregate pushed the Lions, also on similar points, to fifth.
Smarting from 3-0 hammering by Big Bullets, the Nomads needed to win at all cost. But to do this, they had to atone for first-half disjointed displays with the introduction of Alfred Manyozo Junior for Felix Kamwendo.
The Nomads chased shadows the entire first-half only to survive because of the visitors’ poor finishing.
But after break, Manyozo’s coming, alongside Cuthbert Sinetre for Mapopa Msukwa, stabilised the midfield and breathed life into the game. Kamwendo began controlling the midfield again.
On the 67th minute, Kamwendo picked out clever-running Mpinganjira with a diagonal through-ball on the left. The striker chipped the ball before Lions custodian Brighton Ngwenyama had closed in on a swift counter-attack.
Previously, Lions’ Boniface Kaulesi had sent his overhead kick over the bar, then eventually saw his square ball from a tight angle on Wanderers goal swept away by Foster Namwela.
Thereafter, it was all Wanderers as Kamwendo again passed the ball through the channels aiming for Mpinganjira who reacted late. Advancing Ngwenyama appeared to dive for the ball only for it to slip through his grasp and roll into the net.
Striker Anthony Banda was guilty of wastage, but the Nomads, who made three changes to last week’s line-up, had done enough. It was game over. Yet, coach Collins Nkuna wore a brave face promising to bounce back whereas Wanderers team manager Chiyembekezo Zidana remained modest.
At Mzuzu Stadium, Kabwafu remained bottom on 14 points after a 1-all draw with Blue Eagles who remain seven on 34 points. Innocent Bokosi scored for Eagles whereas Dan Lusafe was on target for the hosts.
In Lilongwe, it was a triumphant return to the capital city for former Civo United coach Alex Masanjala who led his new club, Escom United, to a 2-1 victory against Kamuzu Barracks (KB) at Civo Stadium.
KB’s Gift Zumazuma deflected into his own net from Escom’s Manase Chiyesa’s pass in the 21st minute to give Escom the lead.
Joel Chipofwafa replied for KB in the 84th minute when he slotted the ball past impressive Asani Kazembe for Escom after a melee in the box.
But Masanjala had an ace in Flames international Chikupo Msowoya who blasted in the net from Mayamiko Salamu’s cross to bag three points.
