Silver Strikers continued their fly start to the TNM Super League season with a 4-0 thumping of Karonga United at Bingu National Stadium (BNS) Sunday.
It was a different story at Kamuzu Stadium, where Mighty Mukuru Wanderers supporters were left seething with rage after their side squandered a first half lead to draw 1-1 with Dedza Dynamos Salima Sugar.
However, at BNS Silver, opened a three-point gap at the summit of the log table following the win.
The Central Bankers have 24 points from 10 matches, three points above FCB Nyasa Bullets who shared the spoils with Kamuzu Barracks following a goal-less draw at Civo Stadium on Saturday.
This could be a big statement in the early stages of the title race
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However, there is a long way to go.
Patrick Macheso was the hero of the day when he scored his first hat-trick of the season before Mark Fodya sealed the victory.
However, it took Silver 31 minutes to break the deadlock.
Macheso received a brilliant pass from Stain Davie and planted it home, beating Karonga goalkeeper Lloyd Munthali.
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After the goal, the visitors piled pressure on the home side in search of an equaliser.
Josiah Duwa struck the post with a well taken shot but the Bankers’ defence stood firm.
Immediately after the break, Macheso doubled Silver’s lead after another pass from Davie.
Macheso completed his hat-trick.
For the third time, it was Davie who provided the assist.
Fodya nailed the last nail on Karonga’ coffin.
After the match, Silver Coach Pieter de Jongh was impressed with the win.
“We bossed in all departments and also created several chances. We played good football and this was good for us. We now focus on the next match,” the Dutchman said.
Karonga Assistant Coach Luka Bruno Milanzi accepted defeat.
“We did not play the way we wanted. It is part of the game and we move on,” Milanzi said.
At Kamuzu Stadium, Wanderers fluffed several scoring opportunities to draw 1-1 with Dynamos.
Christopher Kumwembe scored for Wanderers in the seventh minute of the match before Edward Dakalira cancelled the lead in the second half to the disappointment of the blue family.
Dakalira converted a penalty which was awarded after Peter Cholopi had handled the ball in the penalty area.
This means the Nomads have failed to win in two consecutive matches in the league after they lost 1-0 to Extreme at Bingu National Stadium before the international break.
The Nomads are still third on the log table with 18 points from 10 matches, six points behind leaders Silver, three behind rivals Bullets.
In post-match interview, Wanderers Coach Mark Harrison was left ruing missed chances.
“We made life difficult for ourselves. We could have scored more goals in the first half but we failed to finish off our opponents. It is the same story every week as we are failing to take our chances. We will try to work hard in training but that is not a training problem as it is for an individual player to do it on the pitch,” he said.
Dedza Coach Gilbert Chirwa said his charges gave Wanderers too much respect in the first half.
“We did not play well in the first half because we gave them respect,” Chirwa said.
Irate Wanderers fans bayed for the players’ blood in a similar act which happened when the side lost to Extreme at BNS.
Elsewhere, Ekwendeni Hammers collected maximum points following a 1-0 win over Extreme at Civo Stadium, thanks to Blessings Singini.
