FCB Nyasa Big Bullets suffered the first defeat of the FDH Bank Premiership campaign following a 1-0 loss away to Goshen City Dedza Dynamos in Saturday afternoon’s encounter at Dedza Stadium.
Marko Chiwaya scored the decisive goal five minutes before the interval, while Andrew Jovinala was forced off injured during stoppage time as we finished the contest with ten men.
The result brought an end to our unbeaten start to the league season, following five victories and five draws from the opening ten matches.
The hosts strike before the break
Bullets made two changes to the side that played out a goalless draw against Ekhaya FC last weekend.
Henry Chiwaya replaced the injured Prince Chiumia, while Maxwell Phodo came into the starting XI for George Chaomba.
Dedza applied the early pressure, forcing Innocent Nyasulu to punch away a dangerous free-kick inside the opening two minutes.
Phodo produced our first attempt in the sixth minute after finding space outside the penalty area, but the forward sent his long-range strike wide of target.
Four minutes later, Nyasulu’s precise goal kick released Peter Banda in space to launch a quick counter-attack.
Phodo’s initial effort was blocked by Lughano Kaira before Banda failed to make a clean connection with the rebound.
Clever Kalambo then delivered our first corner towards an unmarked Phodo in the 12th minute, but his header sailed over the crossbar.
At the opposite end, Nyasulu produced an excellent save two minutes later, punching away Sunganani Geoffrey’s powerful strike before the hosts failed to capitalise on the resulting corner.
Bullets continued searching for the breakthrough, with Kalambo delivering another corner into the area before Ephraim Kondowe was penalised for a foul on Kaira.
Kalambo received the first booking of the match in the 27th minute.
The home side made an early change three minutes later, introducing Wellington Chimutu for God’swill Kanyika.
Banda’s delivery from our third corner flashed across the penalty area in the 34th minute, but no red and white shirt could provide the finishing touch.
The deadlock was eventually broken in the 40th minute when Chiwaya turned home a cross from the left after Nyasulu was unable to deal with the delivery.
Dynamos nearly doubled their advantage during first-half stoppage time when Kaira floated a dangerous free-kick into the area, but we survived and went into the interval one goal behind.
Bullets step up after the restart
George Chaomba and Sean McBrams replaced Peter Banda and Phodo at half-time as Bullets returned for the second period with greater attacking intent.
Kalambo delivered an early free-kick from the attacking third, but the hosts dealt with the danger.
McBrams won a corner for us in the 56th minute, but we were unable to make the set piece count.
Dedza threatened moments later through a quick attack down the right, with Tathedwa Willard arriving too late to connect with the ball inside the penalty area.
Madalitso Safuli and Dastan Banda were introduced for Wongani Lungu and Kondowe in a double substitution in the 65th minute.
The hosts regained possession in our defensive third two minutes later, but Nyasulu produced another important save to deny Chifuniro Mpinganjira from close range.
Captaining Bullets for the second successive match in the injured Blessings Mpokera’s absence, Chawanangwa Gumbo came close to restoring parity in the 72nd minute when his powerful long-range effort flew narrowly over the bar.
Dynamos goalkeeper Dennis Phiri was booked for time-wasting a minute later.
Injury forced us into our final change in the 76th minute, with Yankho Singo replacing Henry Chiwaya.
Safuli delivered a dangerous corner three minutes later, but Phiri rose to claim the ball as The People’s Team continued pressing for an equaliser.
Jovinala forced off in frantic finish
Bullets increased the pressure during the closing stages, forcing the hosts deeper as the search for a late breakthrough continued.
Dynamos introduced Precious Kwalenga for Tathedwa Willard in the 87th minute.
George Mboma then replaced Mpinganjira as six minutes of stoppage time were announced.
The contest took another turn in the 93rd minute when Goshen City captain Christopher Phiri was booked following a heavy challenge on Jovinala.
The defender was unable to continue, and with all five substitutions already made, we were forced to see out the remaining minutes with ten men.
Dynamos held firm through the closing stages to hand us our first league defeat of the season.
Bullets will now turn their attention to the next FDH Bank Premiership assignment as we look to respond to the setback.
FCB Nyasa Big Bullets XI
24 Innocent Nyasulu; 21 Andrew Jovinala, 27 Henry Chiwaya (17 Yankho Singo 76’), 2 Yamikani Mologeni, 26 Emmanuel Kaunga; 29 Chawanangwa Gumbo (C), 19 Wongani Lungu (12 Madalitso Safuli 65’); 7 Peter Banda (22 George Chaomba 46’), 11 Clever Kalambo, 20 Maxwell Phodo (14 Sean McBrams 46’); 13 Ephraim Kondowe (18 Dastan Banda 65’).
Substitutes not used
23 Maclean Mwale, 6 Frank Willard, 25 Edward Thengo, 28 Misheck Billiat.
Goshen City Dedza Dynamos XI
16 Dennis Brino Phiri; 5 Christopher Phiri (C), 2 Sunganani Geoffrey, 3 Peter Zulu, 9 Chifuniro Mpinganjira (30 George Mboma 90’); 10 Marko Chiwaya, 12 God’swill Kanyika (24 Wellington Chimutu 30’), 15 Aggry Msowoya, 18 Edward Dakalira; 19 Lughano Kaira, 44 Tathedwa Willard (6 Precious Kwalenga 87’).
Substitutes not used
8 Ibrahim Sadiki, 20 Sinto Simon Chipole, 21 Lewa Mkosi, 22 Chriss Lwemba, 23 Blessings Juma, 25 Grayson Msowoya.
Match Statistics
Goals: Marko Chiwaya 40’ (Dedza Dynamos).
Bookings: Clever Kalambo (Bullets); Dennis Phiri, Christopher Phiri (Dedza Dynamos).
Match Details
Fixture: Goshen City Dedza Dynamos vs FCB Nyasa Big Bullets
Competition: FDH Bank Premiership
Date: 25 July 2026
Venue: Dedza Stadium
Result: Dedza Dynamos 1-0 Bullets.
