Tigers bite Nomads
Marauding Tigers FC made the most of their first-half chances to hand defending champions Be Forward Wanderers their first TNM Super League defeat of the season with a 2-0 victory at a packed Mulanje Park Stadium on a chilly afternoon yesterday.
Chikayiko Biasoni and Luke Chima scored in this half to take Tigers to the summit of the log table with 10 points from four games, at par with Nyasa Big Bullets who saw off Nchalo United 2-1 also Tuesday to go second.
Tigers capitalised on Nomads’ awful defending and ineffective midfield to score the goals.
Biasoni received a high cross in the 23rd minute in the danger zone before shooting past Wanderers goalkeeper Richard Chipuwa, who made no attempt to stop the ball.
Twenty minutes later, Chima beat Wanderers’ defence to slot into the net the second goal as Tigers led 2-0 at half-time.
In the second-half, Wanderers introduced veteran Joseph Kamwendo and Julius Kajembe for Dan Kumwenda and Mike Kaziputa, respectively.
Kamwendo and Kajembe revived the Nomads’ attacking rhythm but their dominance had no impact on the game as Tigers stood firm at the back.
Wanderers’ frustrations were evident in the 69th minute when striker Peter Wadabwa nearly scored but his shot was denied entry by the woodwork.
After the game, Wanderers Coach, Yasin Osman, admitted that his team was not at its best.
“The defeat has not come as a surprise because we did not play well. We gave them too much freedom especially in the first-half and our passes were not accurate,” Osman said.
Tigers’ caretaker Coach, Chikaiko Bridge, commended his team for making use of its scoring chances.
“We wanted to win this game at all cost. We played well. We have a young squad that is hungry for victory and I thank them,” Bridge said.
At Kalulu Stadium in Nchalo, Chiukepo Msowoya put Bullets in the lead before Osman Balala equalised for Nchalo to make it 1-1 at half time.
Patrick Phiri restored Bullets’ lead in the second-half.
At Nankhaka Ground in Lilongwe, John Malidadi’s brace and a goal each from Phillip Masiye and Alexander Chigawa saw Blue Eagles bouncing back from weekend’s 1-0 loss to Moyale Barracks in Mzuzu to beat Masters Security 4-0 yesterday.
Malidadi has overtaken Mphatso Phillimon as the league’s leading scorer with four goals, one ahead of the Silver Strikers’ forward. Phillimon has three goals just like Chima.
In a post-match interview, Eagles Coach, Derklerk Msakakuona, said: “It was a difficult game for us as playing against Masters was like a derby but we told the guys to focus on the job at hand.”
Eagles are now on position four with seven points.
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