By Isaac Salima:
The much fancied fixture on the land involving traditional rivals FCB Nyasa Big Bullets and Mighty Mukuru Wanderers ended 1-1 in a TNM Super League encounter at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre Sunday.
Nomads’ Stanley Sanudi and Bullets’ Maxwell Gastin Phodo scored in each half for the two teams to claim an eleventh draw since 2017.
Bullets remain on top of the log table with 54 points at par with the Nomads but the Lali Lubani outfit is second due to an inferior goal difference.
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The draw was not a bad result for the People’s Team as they have five more matches to complete their league assignments and, eventually, defend the title.
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No wonder, soon after referee Mwayi Msungama, who whistled his 14th Blantyre derby, had blown the final whistle, Bullets supporters went into celebration.
However, Wanderers, who dominated the play, had themselves to blame for losing vital two points that could have kept their title chase hopes alive.
It was a balanced affair in the opening stages before the Nomads took charge of proceedings as they were on the offensive.
Nomads’ Sanudi and Gaddie Chirwa combined well on the right flank to give a tough afternoon to Bullets left bank Eric Kaonga and left winger Antony Mfune.
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The dominance paid off in the 34th minute when Sanudi scored a stunning goal to separate the two teams.
Sanudi received a pass just after the centre circle to fire the cracker as out of position Bullets goalie Rabson Chiyenda and the backline were caught off guard to stop the rocket.
Bullets, who gambled by introducing unfamiliar starters in the likes of Yankho Singo, Kaonga and Chawanangwa Gumbo, continued playing second fiddle to their rivals, who coordinated well in all departments.
Bullets created several chances but Mfune and Phodo squandered their closest chances in the first half.
Bullets rejuvenated in the final half and camped in Wanderers half as the Nomads defended deeply and gave themselves unnecessary pressure.
Phodo sent the jam-packed Biafra stands into wild celebrations when he scored the equaliser in the 58th minute.
It was Hassan Kajoke, who came off the bench, who did the dirty job when he powered off a hard shot inside the box that proved too hot for Wanderers’ William Thole in goals.
Thole fumbled it on Phodo’s foot to set him for the equaliser.
Vincent Nyangulu could have restored the Nomads’ lead but his powerful header hit the woodwork in the 76th minute.
Referee Msungama denied both teams penalty appeals.
Msungama waved play on when Bullets defender Yamikani Fodya seemed to have tripped Chirwa in the box soon after the start of the second half and the referee also paid a blind eye when Thole appeared to have fouled Kajoke in the danger zone.
The result means that no team has managed to reign supreme over the other in the league assignments for this season after the two giants also drew 0-0 in the first leg.
Wanderers Coach Mark Harrison, whose team has two matches against Mighty Wakawaka Tigers and Civil Service United to wind up the season, blamed the referee for denying them a penalty.
“He has denied us several penalty appeals this season but I do not know why. We did everything that we were supposed to do in this match but, sometimes, the result does not go your way. This is a derby game, a big game and we can draw some positives from it,” Harrison said.
His opposite number Kalisto Pasuwa was visibly contented with the result.
“We created several chances in the first half but did not utilise those opportunities.
“The result, to us, is a point gained and it is the opposition that was supposed to do more to us,” Pasuwa said.
In another match yesterday, Moyale Barracks boosted their survival chances when they thrashed Chitipa United.
