FCB Nyasa Big Bullets gave away a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 against Civil Service United in the TNM Super League at Civo Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.
This second consecutive draw means Bullets dropped four points from our final two games in the Central Region following Saturday’s goalless draw away to Silver Strikers.
What happened
Kalisto Pasuwa made wholesale changes to the side that played against Silver, as Clever Mkungula, Blessings Mpokera, Chawanangwa Gumbo, Ronald Chitiyo, Frank Willard, and Ephraim Kondowe all started.
The two teams failed to create meaningful chances in the opening minutes and it was not until the 17th minute when Masiya Manda brought down Chikumbutso Salima inside the area.
Referee David Chinoko wasted no time by awarding the visitors a penalty from which Nickson Nyasulu stepped up to slot the ball home, 0-1.
The rain, which had stopped before kick-off, resumed after the visitors scored, but despite this, the action continued, with Bullets dominating play while Civil sat back to avoid conceding another goal.
With 21 minutes played, John Dambuleni saw his powerful header missing Mkungula’s right-hand post with an inch. The defender was found unmarked by Damiano Kunje’s well-taken corner kick.
Moments later, Phodo had his chance in the 28th minute when he got the better of Dambuleni in the box, but he sent his shot wide from close range.
33 minutes on the clock, Kondowe was found unmarked by Yamikani Mologeni’s cross, but he headed wide when the goal was open.
The continuous rains made the pitch waterlogged, and it was difficult for the two teams to play their usual passing game, finishing the first half on a low note, with Pasuwa’s men narrowly leading 1-0.
The situation on the pitch forced Chinoko to delay the match by more than an hour, and when the two teams came out of the dressing room for the second half, The Servants were a changed side.
Pasuwa brought in Ernest Petro for Chitiyo as he looked to take control of the midfield as the pitch was becoming unplayable.
Bullets doubled the lead in the 48th minute when Salima delivered the ball into the area from a corner kick that Boston Kabango missed and it landed favourably at Kondowe to power it home with an intelligent header, 0-2.
The second goal forced Abbas Makawa to make a triple substitution of Horrace Nchoma, Mathews Hamza, and Chikaiko Batison for Kunje, Kabango and Chifundo Ngapemba.
These changes were all that Civil needed as they increased their attacking pace and, in most cases, used secondary balls to keep Bullets’ defence busy.
At the other end, Salima continued to torment Manda and Dambuleni, and he almost scored a goal in the 58th minute when his long-range shot was deflected out for a corner kick which the hosts easily defended.
In the 64th minute, Makawa’s men started their comeback through Batison, who unmarked, spotted Mkungula off his line before hitting the back of the net, 1-2.
Sensing danger, Pasuwa brought in Lameck Gamphani and Babatunde Adepoju for Phodo and Kondowe in the 75th minute.
With pace and aggressiveness in the offensive zone, Batison was a big threat to Gomezgani Chirwa’s led defence.
The game was level in the 80th minute when Bullets failed to deal with another long-range ball from Moses Banda to find Batison, who controlled the ball before spotting Mkungula off his line as the shot-stopper left a gap to allow the forward to slot the ball home, 2-2.
Bullets should have responded in the 82nd minute when Salima raced into the offensive zone, however, the home side’s goalie denied the wing forward as he changed the direction of his strike for a corner kick.
Pasuwa introduced Lloyd Aaron for Gumbo in the 84th minute to try to take control of the midfield, which the hosts bossed.
There was a penalty shout in the 88th minute when Dambuleni brought down Salima inside the area as the midfielder weaved his way through to find shooting space. But Chinoko and his assistant thought otherwise, leaving every Bullets fanatic in disbelief.
Three minutes were added to the clock, but the two teams had to settle for a draw.
What it means
This midweek result means Bullets have registered a 13th draw in the 2024 season and sit third in the standings with 46 points from 27 games.
Looking forward
Our next assignment is the last away game in the league this campaign. On Sunday we travel to Mulanje to take on FOMO FC at Mulanje Park.
