FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Women continued the FAM Women’s Football Southern Region League title defence with a bang as we defeated Attu Bullets 2-0 away at Chikowi Ground in Zomba.
Vanessa Chikupila starred on the sunny afternoon following her return from the short-term loan at Ntopwa where she travelled with the team to South Africa for the recently held CAF Women’s League COSAFA Qualifiers.
Our ladies went into the away tie coming from an abandoned match that we were leading 11-0 against Evirom.
The visitors would have opened the day’s scoring in the 11th minute through Beatrice Makoka who was taken stopped by Attu’s captain Linda Manyenje.
Chikupila followed the attempt a minute later, unfortunately, her effort landed further from the goalpost.
The forward then put our women’s side on the scoresheet when she broke the deadlock in the 14th minute.
Six minutes later Chikupila doubled our advantage and registered a brace on the afternoon when she converted from the spot following a challenge on Mary Chavinda.
Fauzah Mohammad nearly put herself on the scoresheet in the 29th minute but her weak shot was too easy for goalkeeper Bridget Malema.
Bullets Women would have registered another goal before the halftime whistle, but Chavinda had her header in the 37th minute landed in Malema’s palms and that was all for the half, 2-0.
To have a taste of the remaining 45 minutes, substitutions breathed life in the second half’s opening minutes when assistant coach Charles Lubani introduced Tendai Sani, Pililani Malola and Laina James taking out Grace Yotam, Caro Mlenzo and Charity Phiri.
Maule ladies continued searching for another goal but the home side kept frustrating the defending champions.
Lubani made another substitution in the 63rd minute when he replaced Sharon Dzimawu with Asimenye Mwanyongo.
In the 69th minute, Chikupila had a chance to shoot but unfortunately, the forward saw her effort going off target.
We made another change in the 70th minute when Chavinda was withdrawn for Lloulia Yiannakis.
Moments later, James nearly registered her name on the scoresheet when she shot outside the penalty area and Attu had their goalkeeper to thank when she denied the midfielder to cause more damage.
Despite the visitors creating a few chances in the final period, it was a rather quiet half as neither of the sides managed to find the back of the net even after five minutes of stoppage time were added to the clock, and 2-0 it ended in favour of the bullets from Blantyre.
Our women had a total of 12 shots on target and 14 off target by the end of the match.
