FCB Nyasa Big Bullets started the second round of the TNM Super League with a 1-1 stalemate against Moyale Barracks at Kamuzu Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
This result means the reigning champions have registered a ninth draw of the season out of 16 league matches.
Bullets broke the deadlock in the 34th minute through Chitiyo, but we could not hold on to the lead as the visitors equalised before the break.
What happenedÂ
Straight from a hard-fought 1-0 win over Civil Service United in the FDH Bank Cup quarterfinals last week, Kalisto Pasuwa handed Lameck Gamphani his first start after he joined The People’s Team from Premier Bet Dedza Dynamos on Monday.
Ronald Chitiyo also found his way into the starting team by replacing Chawanangwa Gumbo in central midfield.
We nearly opened the scoring in the third minute of the match when Victor Mwale’s clearance ended in the palms of his goalkeeper as he failed to clear a cross from Maxwell Phodo. Olyce Nkhwazi was well-placed to make a quick save.
Moyale’s first attempt at goal came in the 11th minute through Luke Chima, who was denied by Richard Chimbamba.
The hosts were able to keep the ball in the opening minutes but breaking Moyale’s defensive line of Maneno Nyoni and Mwale was a tough task, forcing Pasuwa’s men to make more passes in their half instead of pushing into the offensive zone.
Chances were very few but the visitors again came close in the 27th minute when Nyoni released a powerful shot from a freekick closer to the centre cycle to force Chimbamba to make his second serious save for a corner which we defended.
It was still goalless after the half-hour mark but the hosts made a breakthrough in the 34th minute.
The forward opened fire outside the penalty box and Chitiyo had a slight touch of the ball beating the visiting shot-stopper to his weaker left-hand side near-post, 1-0.
But the lead was cut short in the additional minutes of the half. Lloyd Aaron conceded a freekick to the right side of our defence and Lovemore Jere stepped up to send a very dangerous ball that was guided into the net by Peter Ng’ambi, 1-1.
After the recess, Pasuwa brought in Precious Phiri for Gamphani while Moyale introduced George Nyirenda for Charles Nkhoma.
Bullets started the final half on a low note, making too many passes in their half and failing to break into the offensive spaces.
Aaron almost restored our lead in the 49th minute when he smartly dribbled past Jere before firing at goal. But, Nkhwazi was equal to the task with an important save to deny the defending champions.
As Bullets pressed, Prichard Mwansa’s men wanted to catch them on the break with a counter-attack and they nearly punished us when Bornface Chuma delivered the ball into the box to Emmanuel Allan who only missed the upright with an inch.
With 60 minutes played, it was now Nkhwazi coming to Moyale’s rescue, this time around, denying Chitiyo from scoring with a timely save as Bullets invaded the visitors’ penalty area.
Pasuwa brought in Ephraim Kondowe for Billiat to try to add more firepower as the time was ticking against the defending champions.
Khumbo Mhone got the better of Crispin Mapemba in the 62nd minute but his effort swerved past Chimbamba before going out of the field for a goal-kick.
Bullets’ day got worse as Clyde Senaji suffered an injury and the Kenyan centre-half was replaced by Blessings Mpokera in the 67th minute.
At this moment, the visitors sat back to defend but Bullets kept struggling to break their defense, with every long ball into the box well defended by the Mzuzu-based soldiers.
With 15 minutes to go, Chitiyo made a brilliant run into the box only to see his final pass intercepted by Mwale when it was bound to find Phiri in the six-yard box.
Mwansa brought in Chifundo Damba for Chuma in the 77th minute, a clear strategy for them to defend and the same time, launch counter-attacks after they spotted a gap in our defence.
But it was Aaron who had a chance to give Pasuwa’s men a win when he was at the receiving end of Nickson Nyasulu’s long ball into the offensive half but the midfielder was unfortunate to see his effort coming off the woodwork.
90 minutes on the clock, another draw was looming. Peter Kasonga came in for Chima in stoppage time.
Bullets had the last chance in the final minute through a freekick, unfortunately, Chitiyo effort landed straight into the palms of Nkhwazi and after the end of the added minutes, referee Cassim Shaibu blew his whistle to mark the end of the match, 1-1.
What it means
This draw leaves us 16 points behind log leaders Silver Strikers in the race and a point adrift of the top four.
The People’s Team has 24 points from 16 games, winning five games, drawing nine and recording two losses.
What next
Bullets will now focus on the CAF Champions League as we are set to host Red Arrows of Zambia in the first preliminary round first-leg tie at the Bingu National Stadium on Sunday, before facing Moyale again in the semifinals of the FDH Bank Cup on Wednesday at the same BNS.
