FCB Nyasa Big Bullets have gone three points clear at the summit of the TNM Super League following a 2-0 victory over Chitipa United at Kamuzu Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Two first-half goals from Collins Okumu and Lanjesi Nkhoma secured the vital maximum points for The People’s Team.
With today’s win, Bullets are now on 50 points from 23 matches, with two games in hand over the second-placed Mighty Mukuru Wanderers.
What happened
After spending two weeks on the road, Kalisto Pasuwa’s men made a marvellous home return on Saturday.
A minute from the start, we had already been at the visitor’s door as captain Precious Sambani dispatched a searching delivery of which Precious Phiri connected well but George Chiooka was alert at the far post to prevent Chitipa from conceding what would have been the fastest goal for MacDonald Mtetemera’s men to concede.
Our eagerness to be in front did not take long to get a reward as our Kenyan defender nodded home a Patrick Mwaungulu set-piece down the right byline.
That was a successful individual revenge considering he was the one who conceded an own goal in our 1-0 defeat against Chitipa away in the first round.
With the same hunger and aggression, we continued to press the fourth-placed side and forced them to concede a penalty when Ephraim Kondowe was tripped inside the area and our leading scorer Lanjesi Nkhoma stepped up to make it 2-0 from the spot as he took his league goal tally to 13 goals, one behind Clement Nyondo.
The visitors could have pulled one back through China Chirwa but our number one net-minder Rabson Chiyenda was at the right place to make a vital save a few moments before the opening half came to an end.
Picking it up from where we left in the first half, we returned for the closing chapter two-nil ahead but still looking like we were chasing the game.
In the 50th minute, Patrick Mwaungulu spread a fine pass to Gomezgani Chirwa whose strong effort rattled against the upright bar.
As the match progressed, the visitors improved and dared to keep us pinned in our half in pursuit of a goal that would keep them in the contest.
Looking to stabilize the tie, coach Kalisto Pasuwa made a triple change, throwing in Antony Mfune, Stanley Biliati and Gasten Phodo for Mwaungulu, Kondowe and Nkhoma with 19 minutes left on the clock.
After making that wholesome change but still seeing his side struggling, Pasuwa introduced Peter Banda who went on to ease the pressure we were desperately trying to absorb through his flair and cooling play.
The visitors came daring to fight back in the second half but the champions had already done most part of the mission earlier in the tie, 2-0 it finished.
What it means
With Saturday’s victory, Bullets are now on 50 points from 23 matches. We lead at the top with that points accumulation and that is with two games in hand over the second-placed rivals Wanderers.
Next
What follows after this victory for Bullets is another home league match on Wednesday when we welcome the 2016 TNM Super League winners Kamuzu Barracks.
XI| Chiyenda; Chirwa, Mpokera, Okumu, Sambani ©; Willard, Gumbo, Mwaungulu; Phiri, Nkhoma, Kondowe.
Used Subs|Billiat, P. Banda, Phodo, Mfune.
