FCB Nyasa Big Bullets moved to third position in the TNM Super League standings following a goalless stalemate away to Mzuzu City Hammers on Wednesday afternoon at Mzuzu Stadium.
The match marked the end of Bullets’ Northern Region trip after the defending champions secured a narrow 1-0 win away to Baka City in Karonga on Sunday.
Kalisto Pasuwa’s men fought hard for another three points as they looked to move into third position comfortably, but they had to settle for a point to return to Blantyre with four points out of a possible six.
What happenedÂ
Kalisto Pasuwa made six changes to the side that beat Baka City. He handed Wongani Lungu his first start since joining us from the Hammers in August. Captain Gomezgani Chirwa and Ernest Petro, who were rested on Sunday, came in to replace Blessings Mpokera and Lloyd Aaron, who were rested and serving a suspension, respectively.
Our Kenyan defender Clyde Senaji and midfielders Chrispin Mapemba and Chikumbutso Salima replaced Nickson Nyasulu, Collin Mujuru, and Maxwell Phodo.
The visitors started brightly, putting the hosts under intense pressure in the first 15 minutes of the match, but there was no serious attempt at goal to break the deadlock.
Lungu, facing his former club since he moved to Blantyre, made a brilliant pass to Babatunde Adepoju in the offensive zone, but Chancy Mtete was very alert with a good intervention.
With 20 minutes played on the clock, the dimension of the game completely changed as Akeem Abioye, Chinonso Promise, and Bayo Fatayo caused more havoc to Bullets’ back four due to their physical strength, but Senaji’s led defence closed down spaces and won every duel to stop them from having a sight at goal.
The hosts had an opportunity in the 24th minute when Lungu fouled Isaac Msiska closer to our penalty area, but Samuel Adeyemi headed Abioye’s delivery wide for a goal kick.
None of the two goalkeepers were seriously called into action, and no clear chances were created in either half.
The Hammers suffered a blow in the 36th minute when Abioye sustained an injury while fighting for the ball with Babatunde, who was cautioned in the process. This took his yellow cards to three and earned our Nigerian forward an automatic suspension for Sunday’s game against Mafco at Kamuzu Stadium.
Yasin Rashid replaced the injured midfielder. However, there was nothing more to write about in the remaining minutes of the opening period, as neither team registered a shot at goal in the entire 45 minutes.
After the recess, Petro was substituted for Chawanangwa Gumbo, perhaps a tactical change to regain the home side’s mostly dominant midfield.
Unlike the first 45 minutes, the second half was lacking life. Both teams mostly used secondary balls and had no clear path for a passing game.
Too many stoppages also spoiled the match, as referee Waliko Simfukwe blew his whistle anyway to halt the play.
In the 52nd minute, Hammers introduced Chimwemwe Chunga so that Adebeyi could operate from the right side of the field.
On a bumpy and dry pitch, it was clear that Bullets would struggle to play their usual game. The hosts were able to move from the back into the attacking area, but they had no opportunity to shoot at goal.
Pasuwa made a double substitution in the 62nd minute, bringing in Phodo and Lameck Gamphani for Salima and Stanley Billiat.
The visitors almost scored in their first attempt at goal in the 71st minute when Gumbo released a thunderous shot outside the penalty box to force Mtete to make a serious save. From the rebound, Babatunde was caught offside.
With 13 minutes remaining, Gerald Ngwira came in for Hammers, replacing Msiska, who Mapemba tightly marked.
In the 81st minute, Precious Sambani and Kenneth Pasuwa came in for Lungu and Babatunde.
Bullets had three back-to-back set pieces that yielded nothing as Mtete was in control of his penalty area to maintain the 0-0 scoreline.
The People’s Team should have had two goals within five minutes when Yankho Singo’s powerful effort missed Mtete’s left-hand post by an inch.
Moments later, the shot-stopper denied Gamphani a goal when he brilliantly saved a strike that was bound for the top-right corner, and that was all for the match.
What it means
After 21 games, the midweek result means Bullets have moved third in the standings with 34 points, level with Civil Service United, but Pasuwa’s men have a superior goal difference and a game in hand.
What next
The defending champions’ next opponent is Mafco FC at Kamuzu Stadium on Sunday. This is our final league match before the second summer international break, which might see us taking on Blantyre Rural side Kumanda Stars in the Castel Challenge Cup Round of 64.
