A brace from Babatunde Adepoju inspired FCB Nyasa Big Bullets to a comfortable 2-0 win over FOMO FC in the TNM Super League at Mulanje Park on Sunday afternoon.
This was Bullets’ final fixture away from home in this campaign which edges closer to its conclusion.
It was a good outing for Kalisto Pasuwa’s men, who dropped four points last week following two draws against Silver Strikers and Civil Service United.
The defeat is a massive blow to FOMO in pursuit of their Super League survival, as they are stuck in the drop zone.
What happened
As expected, Pasuwa made several changes to his squad as Alick Lungu, Yankho Singo, and Innocent Nyasulu replaced Blessings Mpokera, Frank Willard and Clever Mkungula.
Playing on a bumpy surface made things very difficult for Bullets, who had to adapt to the condition of the pitch to get a result.
It was the home side that had the first chance of the tie in the 10th minute when Lungu failed to intercept a ball from Hussein Hassan’s pass that landed straight at Hassan Luwembe, who had his strike stopped by Nyasulu.
Despite an early threat from the hosts, Bullets were calm and composed as they dealt with everything Elvis Kafoteka’s men threw at them.
It had to take 17 minutes for the visitors to make a breakthrough. Singo spotted Yamikani Mologeni to the far right before sending a brilliant pass to the full-back, who just played a fast one with a cross that found Babatunde unmarked and the Nigerian headed into the far top corner to make it 0-1.
The hosts wanted to respond immediately after conceding, but Hussein, a former Bullets Reserves player, twice saw his efforts outside the penalty box going wide.
With 36 minutes played on the clock, Mologeni was at it again, this time around, making a brilliant run before releasing a thunderous shot that almost caught Richard Mtekateka off guard, but the shot-stopper handled the situation well to keep his team in contention.
At the other end, Hussein had a chance to level when he got the better of Mologeni, but his shot went off target, summing up a frustrating afternoon for a side desperate for a win to keep their survival hopes alive. Bullets went to the recess with their slender 0-1 lead.
After the break, Pasuwa brought in Wongani Lungu for Ephraim Kondowe, who wasn’t very effective in the opening half in our 4-4-2 formation.
This was a good tactical change as Lungu made more movements towards FOMO’s defensive area that saw Bullets creating chances that could have completely buried the hosts.
The match was over for Kafoteka’s men in the 60th minute when they conceded a penalty following a handball incident inside the 18-yard area.
Babatunde stepped up to slot the ball home, beating Mtekateka, who went the other direction, 0-2.
In the 68th minute, the hosts introduced Mike Banda and Prince Kajore for Yamikani Thole and Chitsanzo Saidi to try to improve the situation as the clock was ticking faster for a team that was 2-0 down.
FOMO had two back-to-back set pieces on the edge of the penalty box but produced nothing as Bullets defended well to maintain their health lead.
Pasuwa brought in Stanley Billiat and Lameck Gamphani for Chikumbutso Salima and Maxwell Phodo in the 79th minute.
Billiat brought another element of fast football with his pace and aggressiveness as he made dangerous runs into the offensive zone. Babatunde wasted a chance to grab a hattrick and our third goal of the tie in the 81st minute after he failed to make a connection inside the area.
In the 85th minute, Babatunde was denied his first-ever hat-trick in the league when his goal from Billiat’s pass was ruled out for offside by the first assistant referee, Joseph Nyauti.
Billiat should have made it three in the 88th minute when his long-range shot hit the post, and the winger was denied again by Chimwemwe Nyoni, who blocked a goal-bound shot after Mtekateka was already beaten in the line of duty.
After 90 minutes, referee Mwayi Msungama added six minutes of stoppages. It was now a matter of just managing the game for Pasuwa’s men, who were in control of their destiny, to claim three important points away and conclude a double against FOMO this season after beating the rookies 3-0 at Kamuzu Stadium in the opening round.
What it means
The win means Bullets, who surrendered the league title to Silver Strikers after winning it for five consecutive seasons, can still fight for the second position. Pasuwa’s men are now five points adrift of the second-placed Mighty Mukuru Wanderers, who lost 1-0 to the Central Bankers on Saturday.
The Nomads have 54 points, while Bullets have 49. Both teams have played 28 games and two are remaining before wrapping up the campaign.
Kafoteka’s men must beat visiting Silver Strikers at Mulanje Park on Wednesday to move out of the relegation zone.
Looking forward
Our next assignment is a home game against Karonga United at Kamuzu Stadium on Wednesday, before wrapping up the league campaign with another home fixture against Kamuzu Barracks on Sunday.
