FCB Nyasa Big Bullets gave away a second-half lead to register another 1-1 TNM Super League draw away to Creck Sporting Club at Civo Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Patrick Mwaungulu broke the deadlock in the 58th minute before the home team equalized through Gift Kadawati nine minutes later.
What happened
The defending champions were coming from their first defeat of the season when they lost 1-0 to Silver Strikers at home before the international break.
Bullets dominated the opening minutes with a passing game but struggled to make amends in the final third.
Our first attempt came seven minutes into the game through Stanley Billiat but the winger was denied by Charles Chisale who made a brilliant save to concede a corner-kick that Talandira Chigaula defended well.
At the other end of the field, a well-placed counter-attack almost resulted in a goal for the hosts when George Chaomba got the better of Clyde Senaji before releasing a powerful shot that missed Richard Chimbamba’s right-hang goal post with an inch.
Moments later, Mwaungulu came close when he was set up by Babatunde Adepoju on the edge of the penalty box, but his attempt went off target.
The Nigerian was next to try his luck outside the area in the 15th minute but his attempt was directed straight at Chisale, who, at this moment, was in control of everything thrown at him.
With the half-hour mark played, Precious Sambani made a brilliant run to his left before sending a diagonal ball into the box to Mathews Masamba who failed to pounce from close range.
Kalisto Pasuwa’s men enjoyed more of the possession, but couldn’t make further progress getting into the final third. Hassan Kajoke nearly pounced from a corner kick, unfortunately, his 40th-minute header missed the target.
As Bullets pressed for a goal, the defending champions were also vulnerable to counterattacks and nearly conceded in the 43rd minute when Chaomba made a run before shooting at goal. Nickson Nyasulu came to Bullets’ rescue with a timely intervention to concede a set piece which we kept away from danger, and that was all for the half, 0-0.
After the recess, Pasuwa brought in Ernest Petro for Kajoke to try to be more offensive in a desperate search for a goal. However, the visitors started the final half on a low note as they could not manage to hold on to the ball in the opening minutes.
Sambani drove his attempt wide in the 50th minute before Hadji Wali’s brilliant defending to deny Mwaungulu from a set piece.
But the moment we were waiting for arrived in the 58th minute. Babatunde’s attempt was cleared off the line but the clearance landed in the path of Mwaungulu, who was on standby and wasted no time. The midfielder fired from outside the area to give Bullets a lead with his fifth goal this campaign.
Pasuwa made a triple substitution when he brought on Precious Phiri, Chawanangwa Gumbo and Chrispin Mapemba for Masamba, Billiat and Sambani.
Our lead only lasted less than ten minutes as MacDonald Mtetemera’s charges levelled the scoreline in the 67th minute through Kadawati, who produced a powerful header from Wali’s cross five minutes after his introduction to beat Chimbamba near-post, 1-1.
Bullets should have restored their lead in the 69th minute but Phiri’s header inside the penalty box went wide.
Mtetemera brought in Tathedwa Willard for the injured Chigaula. We kept pushing for a goal as the rookies kept frustrating us, with Chisale denying Babatunde from scoring with a decisive save.
Defender Senaji called for withdrawal after he pulled his muscles in the 86th minute. The Kenyan was replaced by Chikumbutso Salima, who was making his first appearance following his recovery from an injury he picked up against Mighty Tigers in April.
The winger almost made an immediate impact when he delivered an inviting cross into the area in the 89th minute, but Wali was very alert with a massive clearance.
Despite adding eight minutes to the clock, Bullets couldn’t capitalize as they registered their sixth draw of the season.
What it means
Sunday’s draw against the TNM Super League rookies means The People’s Team failed to move into the Top 3. We have moved to fifth position with 15 points, ten points behind league leaders Silver Strikers, who will face Tigers away at Kamuzu Stadium on Monday.
What Next
Following our 1-1 stalemate against Creck on Sunday, the 2023 quadruple winners will return to Blantyre to prepare for another away fixture at Kamuzu Barracks at the same Civo Stadium on Saturday.
