FCB Nyasa Big Bullets bounced back from last weekend’s defeat to Creck Sporting Club with a commanding 2-0 victory over Karonga United at Karonga Stadium on Saturday afternoon, tightening their grip in the TNM Super League title race.
Both goals came at crucial moments, with Wongani Lungu breaking the deadlock in the 30th minute before substitute Ephraim Kondowe sealed the win late in the second half to hand Maule a vital three points on the road.
Lungu opened the scoring with a composed finish inside the box after excellent work from Babatunde Adepoju, who showed great awareness in a congested area. Kondowe then punished a defensive mix-up late in the game to settle nerves in the closing stages.
Head coach Peter Mponda made four changes to the team that lost 2-0 to Creck Sporting Club in Mchinji last Sunday.
He handed starts to Richard Chimbamba, Yankho Singo, Frank Willard, and Maxwell Phodo, and the response was immediate—Chimbamba kept a clean sheet, Singo added balance in midfield, Willard dictated play, and Phodo offered presence up front.
First Half: Lungu Breaks the Deadlock
Bullets started with control and purpose, creating the earliest chances of the match. Phodo had the first clear opening when his long-range strike narrowly missed the target, signalling Bullets’ attacking intent.
Willard and Chawanangwa Gumbo commanded the midfield, regularly winning second balls and recycling possession as Bullets pushed the hosts back. Despite spells of limited pressing from both sides, the league leaders created the better openings, with Phodo again going close after connecting with a loose ball outside the area.
The breakthrough arrived in the 30th minute. A moment of chaos in Karonga’s box allowed Babatunde to react quickest, teeing up Lungu, who calmly slotted home to give Bullets a deserved 1-0 advantage.
Karonga responded by making an early substitution, bringing on Robert Luhanga for Saulos Moyo, but Bullets controlled the remainder of the half and went into the break with a narrow yet deserved lead.
Second Half: Kondowe Kills the Game Late
Mponda introduced fresh legs early in the second half, replacing Babatunde and Chikumbutso Salima with Hassan Kajoke and Ephraim Kondowe.
Karonga United began to grow into the match, enjoying increased possession and threatening through set pieces delivered by former Bullets forwards Patrick Phiri and Anthony Mfune. Chimbamba twice came to Bullets’ rescue—claiming a dangerous freekick and later producing an excellent reflex save to deny Phiri.
As pressure mounted, Mponda made further changes, bringing on Paul Master and Peter Banda, who helped restore composure in midfield.
The decisive moment arrived in the 85th minute. A defensive mix-up between goalkeeper McLean Mwale and Innocent Chitete gifted Kondowe an open goal, and the substitute made no mistake, tapping in the simplest finish to double Bullets’ advantage and silence the home crowd.
The league leaders held firm in the final minutes to secure all three points and a crucial win up North.
What It Means
The victory lifts Bullets to 59 points from 26 matches, holding a three-point lead over Mighty Wanderers, who sit on 56 points from 25 games ahead of their clash against Ekhaya FC on Sunday.
With a clean sheet in Karonga, Bullets now boast a +36 goal difference (54 scored, 18 conceded), while the Nomads remain at +27 (39 scored, 12 conceded).
The result strengthens Bullets’ position in the championship race, keeping destiny firmly in their own hands with four games left.
What’s Next
Bullets travel to Mzuzu for another tough away fixture against Moyale Barracks on Wednesday as the league enters its decisive final stretch.
