FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Women recorded their third victory in the Goshen-FAM Women’s Southern Region League following a 3-2 triumph over Ndirande Soccer Giants away at Nyambadwe Ground on Sunday.
It was a hard-earned victory for Maggie Chombo’s ladies, who met their toughest opponent so far this campaign.
It took 26 minutes before the two teams started scoring, with the home side finding the back of the net first and Bullets responding four minutes later.
What happened
The game started with the home team settling in the visitors’ territory and in 18 minutes, they had three shots at goal. Bridget Malemia did well between our sticks to keep us in the game.
Captain Sharon Dzimau had our first chance from a setpiece but her free kick went over the bar.
Bullets conceded in the 26th minute when Chinsisi Scott broke the deadlock to put Ndirande in front.
We responded at the stroke of the half-hour mark when Carmellina Chikuse brilliantly released our leading scorer Tendai Sani to bring parity in what was becoming an interesting tie.
Chombo made her first substitution immediately after we equalized when she brought on Rachel Matemba to replace Asiyatu George.
Chikuse’s left-footed free-kick nearly made it two for us, unfortunately, the wing forward had her effort shot over the crossbar, before Matemba was also denied by the home ‘keeper Chrissy Kennedy, and that was all for the opening half, 1-1.
Bullets Women came a more recharged side in the second half, dominating possession and enjoying play in the opponents’ half.
Sani came close to doubling her tally in the 56th minute, however, her strike went off target. A minute later Fauzah Mohammed had her effort saved by Kennedy.
We made another change, and this time up front, when Chikuse was replaced by Asimenye Mwanyongo at 62 minutes.
A minute after that substitution, Sani found the back of the net with her second goal of the afternoon and her eleventh in the league this season with a brilliant finish after she was set up by Mohammed.
Our second goal was followed by the home team’s first substitution when Sylus Liwindo introduced Patience Kamphanje with Evelyn Josaya.
Mohammed had a chance to register her name on the scoresheet in the 73rd minute, unfortunately, her effort went over before Matemba was denied a chance to make it three.
The hosts restored parity in the 88th minute through Grace Masiku, who netted from a rebound after Sara Mulimbika had her free-kick blocked by Malemia.
Dzimau won us all three points in stoppage time, scoring directly from a free-kick, beating Kennedy in goals for the home team, 2-3 in favour of the female Bullets.
In her reaction after the game, Chombo was happy with how the ladies showed resilience to fight until the dying minutes to collect all the points at Nyambadwe Ground.
“I’m short of words, it was a 50-50 game with our hosts dominating, but the girls showed resilience and fought until the end to score that winning goal,” she reacted.
“We worked on the mistakes we made in the first half and the girls came back strong in the second half, we expect them to make a lot of improvements as we go,” said our women’s team coach, who has brought in a lot of new faces into her squad.
Following this result, Bullets Women are in second position on the log table with nine points from three games, while the defending champions Kukoma Ntopwa Women are at the top with 10 points from four games.
