FCB Nyasa Big Bullets completed the TNM Super League first round with a convincing 2-0 win away to Bangwe All Stars at Mpira Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.
Straight from a remarkable Blantyre derby win over Mighty Mukuru Wanderers in the FDH Bank Cup Round of 16 last Sunday, Kalisto Pasuwa’s men targeted a win over the relegation-threatened side to finish the opening in the top four.
But The People’s Team had to endure a frustrating first half before scoring two quick second-half goals through Babatunde Adepoju and Chawanagwa Gumbo to register a fifth win of this league campaign.
What happenedÂ
Pasuwa made one change to the side that beat Wanderers as Ernest Petro, finding his way back into the starting XI after recovering from an ankle injury, replaced Yankho Singo in the midfield.
Our first goal-scoring opportunity came in the 16th minute when Babatunde won the ball from Kumbukani Manto but the Nigerian fired wide.
In the 18th minute, we suffered a setback when Petro was stretchered off the field following a rough tackle by James Tambwali. The Bullets number 10 was replaced by Gumbo.
Our fresh substitute nearly made an immediate impact as his first involvement was a chance in the 23rd minute.
He was found by Babatunde inside the area and opened fire, unfortunately, his strike hit the post, and from the rebound, Chrispin Mapemba blasted his effort over the bar.
With 28 minutes played, Lloyd Aaron almost capitalized on a defensive relapse from the hosts, only for his goal-bound shot to be blocked by Kumbukani Manto before Mapemba’s rocket went off target again.
Chances were very few in this half, with Maxwell Phodo coming closer to breaking the deadlock, but his header from Chikumbutso Salima’s cross went over the bar for yet another goal kick for the home side.
Four minutes were added to the clock after the end of the first 45 minutes and no team was able to make a breakthrough.
After the recess, it only took three minutes for Bullets to break the deadlock. Two back-to-back corner-kicks created the goal for the defending champions when, after conceding the second set-piece, Rodgers Yassin’s men failed to regroup, allowing Collin Mujuru to send a very dangerous cross that was just too much for Precious Mlotiwa to handle and from the rebound, Babatunde capitalized to put us in the lead, 0-1.
The scoreline was doubled in the 52nd minute. Salima made a brilliant run to the far right before sending an excellent pass into the 18-yard box to find Gumbo unmarked and the attacking midfielder made an excellent execution to power the ball home, beating Mlotiwa to his left-hand side, 0-2.
These two quick goals unsettled the hosts who were nowhere near Bullets as they defended too deep to avoid further damage.
However, Bangwe had an opportunity in the 60th minute when Kondwani Chilembwe created shooting space closer to the penalty box before firing at the goal with an effort that forced Richard Chimbamba into making his first serious save of the match.
Josiah Duwa and Gregory Mwase replaced Chilembwe and Tambwali as the home team looked to add firepower up front in search of a goal that would have possibly forced something out of the game.
After 63 minutes of play, Pasuwa took out Phodo and Mujuru for Blessings Mpokera and Stanley Billiat while Gregory Mwase came on for Shukran Goba as the hosts also made a change.
In the 70th minute, Bangwe had an opportunity to reduce the arrears when a low cross swerved past Chimbamba before rolling out of the field as there was no black shirt to pounce inside the six-yard area.
Ephraim Kondowe and Kenneth Pasuwa came in for Babatunde and Frank Willard, who took a knock and as someone coming from a long-term injury, Pasuwa had to replace him.
There was another chance for Bullets in the 85th minute through Billiat, who should have put the ball into the net after he was found unmarked in the area by Kondowe, however, the midfielder fired straight at Mlotiwa.
Our final chance came in the additional minutes when Salima’s cross found Kondowe but the forward, making his first appearance after several weeks on the sidelines due to an injury, headed wide and that was all after 90 minutes.
What it means
After claiming all the points midweek, the defending champions have moved up to fourth position in the standings with 23 points from 15 games, finishing the first round of the campaign trailing league leaders Silver Strikers with 14 points and two behind Mighty Mukuru Wanderers and Mzuzu City Hammers, who are placed second and third in the table.
What next
The People’s Team will switch focus to another challenge as the FDH Bank Cup quarterfinal tie against Civil Service United awaits at Kamuzu Stadium on Sunday.
