Junior Flames lose second match in Belgium
By Mabvuto Kambuwe:
Malawi Under-23 national football team lost 3-1 to Belgian side Oud-Heverlee Leuven (OHL) in a friendly played in Brussels Monday.
It was the second consecutive defeat for Malawi as they prepare for Zambia next month in two back-to-back 2020 Olympic Games qualifiers.
The junior Flames lost the first game to Belgian Pro- League side STVV last week by the same margin.
Malawi Coach, Meke Mwase, made one change from the first eleven which featured against STVV.
Goalkeeper Brighton Munthali started in place of Rabson Chiyenda, who conceded two goals in that match.
OHL were the first to score after 27 minutes but the lead was short-lived as junior Flames Captain, Chimwemwe Idana, levelled the scores.
Malawi started the game on a low note but grew in confidence towards the end of the first-half.
Unlike in the first game, in which they conceded two goals in the first-half, they managed a respectable score-line of 1-1 at the interval.
But OHL restored the lead 24 minutes after resumption, before netting the third from the spot three minutes later.
There was no reaction from the coaches as we went to press Monday but local coach Thom Mkolongo said there is no need to worry about the results.
“We went there to prepare for the Zambia games. But going forward, conceding six goals in two games is a sign of defensive weaknesses. We need to improve in that aspect,” Mkolongo said.
Malawi under-23 line-up: Brighton Munthali, Hadji Wali, Dennis Chembezi, Charles Petro, Isaac Kaliati, Idana, Mark Fodya, Levison Maganizo, Peter Banda, Chikaiko Batisoni, Hassan Kajoke.
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