By Mabvuto Kambuwe in Durban, South Africa:
Malawi Beach Soccer National Team suffered an embarrassing 5-1 defeat to guests Saudi Arabia at the ongoing Cosafa Beach Soccer Championship at South Beach Arena in Durban, South Africa.
The result means Group A is wide open as the four teams have three points each after playing two matches.
They are only separated by goal difference heading into the final matches of the group stage Wednesday.
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However, Malawi must win against Seychelles to qualify for the semi-finals of the Cosafa Beach Soccer Championship.
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Following the results of Day Two, Malawi have descended to the bottom of Group A with three points
After beating South Africa on Sunday, expectations were high among fans back home and here in Durban
But it turned out to be a nightmare as the team turned too ordinary against Saudi Arabia.
Some fans back home were given false hopes after Malawi contained Saudi Arabia in the first period of the match.
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The first period ended goal-less as Malawi were also wasteful.
Come the second period, Malawi took the lead through Sandram Saddie Usi with a great header.
However, Saudi Arabia reacted quickly and pulled level before taking the lead.
Thereafter, it was one way traffic as Saudi Arabia raised the tempo of the match.
On the other hand, Malawi failed to cope with Saudi Arabia and conceded three more goals.
In a post-match reaction, coach Willy Kumilambe admitted that his troops did not turn up for the party.
“I am really disappointed with the margin. We lost the match because the players played their game in their heads as they thought it would be easy; so, Saudi Arabia capitalised on such mistakes,” Kumilambe said.
In another Group A match Monday, hosts South Africa kept their semi-finals dream alive after they beat Seychelles 3-2 at the same venue.
Two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals.
Malawi returned to the competition after a nine-year absence, having finished as runners-up in 2015 after they lost 9-4 to Madagascar in Seychelles.
