By Isaac Salima:
Silver Strikers Sunday broke their eight-year winless jinx against FCB Nyasa Big Bullets at Kamuzu Stadium when they beat the People’s Team 1-0 in a TNM Super League match at the venue.
Substitute Chinsinsi Maonga was the hero of the day when he scored the priceless goal on the dot of 90 minutes to hand the Central Bankers the historical victory.
However, the match ended prematurely as alleged Bullets fans threw missiles onto the pitch, expressing anger over the goal.
The win could not have come at a better time than now as the Central Bankers made a record, having downed Bullets’ rivals Mighty Mukuru Wanderers 2-0 last week.
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Silver, who now have 25 points on the summit of the log table, have opened a seven-point gap over second-placed Kamuzu Barracks, who have 18 points from nine matches.
The much fancied fixture lived up to expectations as both teams displayed colourful football that put spectators on the edge of their seats.
Bullets, who have only collected 14 points from a possible 27, would have themselves to blame after missing several scoring chances.
It was a balanced affair as both teams equalled power in the opening stages of the match but Bullets had a slight an upper hand as they created numerous scoring opportunities.
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Babatunde Adepoju, Lanjesi Nkhoma and Patrick Mwaungulu fluffed their closest chances in the first half.
The Central Bankers were not aggressive enough and defended deep as they hardly created chances.
At some point, the match turned physical as tension crept in, with referee Gift Chiko making some questionable decisions.
In the second half, Bullets threw in Hassan Kajoke and Ernest Petrol for ineffective Adepoju and Stanley Biliat while Silver introduced Stain Davie and Patrick Macheso for Binwell Katinji and Uchizi Vunga, respectively.
However, Bullets continued pressing hard but their efforts were frustrated by an impressive Bankers defence and man-of-the-match goalkeeper George Chikooka.
In the last 10 minutes, Silver resurfaced and took the match to the People’s Team as they tasted Bullets goal custodian Innocent Nyasulu, who was equal to the task on two attempts made.
Macheso won the ball in midfield and orchestrated a counter attack where the ball found Maonga, who ran at the Bullets defence before shooting past Nyasulu, to the jubilation of the Bankers family.
Who could blame them as they last celebrated such a victory in 2013?
However the jam-packed Bullets’ biafra stand was left irked with the goal and some alleged fans started throwing objects onto the pitch and the match did not restart.
Bullets players reportedly used other mode of transport after the team bus had one tyre deflated.
Silver were not spared either as they had their bus windows smashed, such that players spent over an hour in the dressing room while waiting for the situation to stabilise.
Referee Chiko was forced to end the match after waiting for 15 minutes.
Bullets are now fifth on the log table with 14 points.
Bullets Coach Kalisto Pasuwa, whose team has registered five draws, one loss and three wins, said he is not under pressure but rued missed chances.
“It is the number of chances that you take that matters. For us to say we won, we needed to make the ball cross the line. Our opponents did that and they won,” Pasuwa said.
Silver Coach Peter Mponda rushed to the dressing room before granting us an interview.
In another match, Bangwe All Stars beat Chitipa United 3-0, courtesy of James Msowoya, Clever Chikwata and Justice Honde goals.
