FCB Nyasa Big Bullets scored twice in each half to collect maximum points over Ekwendeni Hammers with a 4-1 win on Saturday afternoon at the Kamuzu Stadium.
Hassan Kajoke and Lanjesi Nkhoma won us the first half 2-0 with a goal each. The second half was a three-goal thriller as we conceded a goal and scored two through Mwaungulu and substitute Antony Mfune.
The emphatic victory sends The People’s Team back on top in the latest TNM Super League standings with 20 points.
What happened
Early firm hold on the ball and confrontational movements with it gave Maule a flying start to the tie.
Quickly we became too hot to handle for the visitors as we opened the scoring three minutes from the start.
With a cleverly done through ball, Mwaungulu found Kajoke who took a touch in the area and struck past Innocent Kamwambi to make it 1-0.
The early proceedings suggested that Bullets were braced for more quick goals but somehow, we slowed down. Ekwendeni began to find their foot in the game with spells of ball possession and several attempts at goal.
Just when it seemed the visitors were up to something else, we stunned them with our second goal on the afternoon in the 37th minute of the tie.
Gumbo twisted and turned inside the area before releasing the ball to Mwaungulu who wasted no time to set up Nkhoma for a quick-witted tap-in to make it 2-0.
Having frustrated the Hammers’ growing momentum, we went on to finish the opening chapter of the match on the boil as we created chance after chance.
Early after the interval, both sides played out a balanced contest but six minutes into the second half we were three up.
Nkhoma dispossessed Hammers centre-back Chikumbutso Henderson and raced away towards the area before sliding the ball to Mwaungulu who, having created two goals already, produced a lovely left-footed finish to extend both our lead and his glittering performance on the day.
With the scoreline at 3-0, Pasuwa then made a triple change by replacing Kajoke, Petro and Nkhoma with Mike Mkwate, Mfune and McFallen Mgwira in the 63rd minute.
Substitute Mfune was soon presented with a couple of chances but was unable to extend our lead further. Made to regret those wasted chances the visitors pulled one back from a set-piece in the 82nd minute.
Writing off any hopes of a comeback from the visitors we scored again soon after Gomezgani Chirwa had conceded an own goal.
Mwaungulu spread a fine wide pass to Chirwa who scintillatingly paced into the box before teeing up Mfune who asked for forgiveness of his misfiring sins with a simple tap-in to make it 4-1 with four minutes to go.
Maule never ceased to create chances but the tie finished with the fans cheered upon with the entertainment of near misses. 4-1 it finished as Kalisto Pasuwa’s men bounced back from last Saturday’s 1-0 defeat away to Chitipa United.
What it means
Having lost the top spot with last weekend’s defeat, Bullets are, with today’s win, now back on top with 20 points from nine games, two points clear of Silver Strikers who play their game in hand on Sunday against Mafco in Lilongwe.
“It is how you react to any loss that one can be seen to be a champion,” said coach Pasuwa prior to facing Ekwendeni Hammers.
Come on Saturday afternoon his side provided nothing but a strong reaction to the Chitipa loss at the Karonga Stadium last weekend.
The defending champions needed a win to rearrange their title defence and they soundly got it.
Man of the Match
There were a number of bright performances today but only one of them was outstanding. That is one from Patrick Mwaungulu, who in the end was voted Man of the Match having finished the tie with a goal and two assists.
Our assist king last season has had a quiet start to the season but is slowly picking up and his display on Saturday afternoon may be his best so far in this campaign.
With him in the mood he was today, the youngster looks set for a repeat of his last season’s golden exploits.
What next
The FIFA international break follows after this weekend and there will be no competitive club action. Nonetheless, The People’s Team will take a trip to Lilongwe where we will face Silver Strikers in a friendly match to launch the Castel Challenge Cup at the Bingu National Stadium on 17 June.
Starting XI
Clever Mkungula, Clyde Sanaji, Kesten Simbi, Gomezgani Chirwa, Precious Sambani, Frank Willard, Ernest Petro, Chawanangwa Gumbo, Lanjesi Nkhoma, Patrick Mwaungulu, Hassan Kajoke
Used subs
Mike Mkwate, Antony Mfune, Blessings Mpokera, McFallen Mgwira
