FCB Nyasa Big Bullets defeated Moyale Barracks 2-1 in a tightly fought friendly match at Kamuzu Stadium on Saturday afternoon, capitalizing on the FIFA international window.
With eight regular starters away on national team duty and head coach Peter Mponda accompanying Malawi at the COSAFA Senior Challenge Cup in South Africa, assistant Fischer Kondowe seized the moment. He gave several fringe players their debut experience at the oiconic stadium, making the most of the opportunity.
Bullets wasted no time asserting their dominance, taking the lead just three minutes in. Ephraim Kondowe found the back of the net after a well-placed pass from Sean McBrams, making it 1-0.
They nearly doubled their advantage in the 24th minute when Zambian left-back Dominic Musonda, playing for the first time at Kamuzu Stadium, had his free kick tipped away by Moyale goalkeeper Ollis Nkhwazi for a corner.
The visitors had their first clear chance two minutes later, but Black Allison squandered a promising set-piece opportunity.
Kondowe, lively throughout the opening stages, broke through again in the 28th minute thanks to a clever pass from Ernest Petro, but his finish was straight at Nkhwazi.
With Bullets dictating the tempo, Moyale were pinned back defensively. The home side came close again in the 36th minute when a swift counter led by Petro set up Maxwell Cedrick, but the youngster’s shot from distance rattled the post and went out for a goal kick.
Seeking to wrestle back control in midfield, Moyale made their first substitution in the 38th minute, bringing on Lesman Singini for Dan Kumwenda.
Just before halftime, Bullets were forced into a change themselves after Maxwell picked up an injury following a foul by Lovemore Jere and was replaced by Henry Chiwaya. The opening half ended with the home side up 1-0.
After the break, it took Bullets only five minutes to extend their advantage. Kondowe stepped up and calmly converted a penalty after McBrams was brought down in the box, putting the hosts 2-0 ahead.
With Pritchard Mwansa away managing the national team, Charles Nkhoma made a flurry of changes for Moyale, introducing Tiza Nyirenda, Chimwemwe Kashoti, Bonface Chuma Maneno Nyoni, and Clever Kalambo in hopes of sparking a comeback.
Their efforts soon paid off. Singini reduced the deficit with a well-taken header past Clever Mkungula from a pinpoint Walusungu M’doka cross, making it 2-1.
Buoyed by the goal, Moyale began to advance with more intent but struggled to produce a decisive final touch in the attacking third.
Kondowe responded with a series of substitutions of his own, sending on Austin Chirambo in goal, Babatunde Adepoju, Lloyd Aaron, and Chikumbutso Henderson for Mkungula, Mike Mkwate, Kondowe, and Edward Thengo.
A touch of brilliance from Petro nearly restored Bullets’ two-goal cushion as he weaved past four defenders, only to misplace his final pass with McBrams unmarked at the far post.
Late drama unfolded when Aaron’s error at the back handed Nyirenda a chance, but Henderson was quick to block the shot for a corner, which Chirambo handled comfortably.
Moyale pressed hard for an equaliser in the dying minutes, but Bullets held firm, defending in numbers. In stoppage time, Chiwaya teed up Babatunde in the box, whose shot was denied by Nkhwazi before striking the post. The resulting corner yielded nothing, and the referee’s final whistle confirmed a 2-1 victory for the Bullets.
