Wasteful FCB Nyasa Big Bullets registered a 12th draw in the 2024 TNM Super League campaign following a goalless stalemate against Silver Strikers at Silver Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
It was an entertaining encounter dominated by Kalisto Pasuwa’s men and the home side will be happier to collect a hard-earned point against a side that created plenty of goal-scoring chances.
What happened
Pasuwa made several changes to the side that hammered Changalume Barracks in a Castel Challenge Cup Round of 32 tie at Mpira Stadium on Wednesday.
Richard Chimbamba, Gomezgani Chirwa, Nickson Nyasulu, Alick Lungu, Yankho Singo, Lloyd Aaron and Ernest Petro returned to the starting XI as they replaced Clever Mkungula, Kesten Simbi, Clyde Senaji, Blessings Mpokera, Frank Willard, and Chawanangwa Gumbo.
The first chance fell to Chinsinsi Maonga, who exchanged passes with Uchizi Vunga, but his attempt from close range was saved by Chimbamba to concede a corner kick that was easily defended by the visitors.
At the other end, Babatunde Adepoju saw his header missing George Chikooka’s right-hand post by an inch, resulting in a corner kick, which almost punished the hosts when Yamikani Mologeni fired at goal, but the shot-stopper was equal to the task with a brilliant save.
Of the two teams, Bullets attacked with high intensity, and they should have had a goal in the 12th minute through Stanley Billiat, unfortunately, the midfielder saw his effort deflected for another set piece which we did not utilise.
With 25 minutes played, the Central Bankers were dominating possession, but they did very little in the final third as Bullets closed down all spaces to restrict them from having a clear sight of the goal.
Babatunde failed to head in from close range when he received an excellent cross from Mologeni. The striker only needed a touch to pounce.
That miss could have proved costly to Bullets, who nearly conceded. Chimwemwe Idana won the ball from Petro before setting up Vunga, who sent a rocket at goal to force Chimbamba to make an important save.
Bullets should have had a goal in the 37th minute when Babatunde got the better of Innocent Shema and only had Chikooka to beat. However, his weaker strike was easily saved by the Silver shot stopper near-post.
The People’s Team kept on knocking, forcing Peter Mponda’s men to sit back to defend against a highly pressing side that was dominating play in search of a goal.
Bullets had two final chances of the opening period in the 45th minute. Firstly, Phodo saw his shot well stopped by Chikooka, whose quick reaction denied Babatunde from breaking the deadlock, and that was all for the half.
After the recess, Mponda brought in Gift Chunga and Binwell Katinji for Zebron Kalima and Stain Davie, a clear indication of offensive intent from the Area 47 side.
This half was completely dominated by Bullets who pressed an acceleration pedal to get a goal. The Bankers were second on the ball, losing possession anyhow and could not make any dangerous moves into the offensive zone.
Five minutes into the final half, The People’s Team won three straight corner kicks but failed to take advantage as Silver defended well to protect their goal area.
At 53 minutes, Bullets wasted another glorious opportunity in unbelievable circumstances. Mologeni made a brilliant run to the right before finding Phodo, who only needed a good execution of the ball, but he blasted his effort over the crossbar when the goal was at his mercy.
As Bullets missed the glorious opportunity, Vunga was at it again, causing havoc to Nyasulu’s led defence when he released a thunderous shot outside the penalty area in the 62nd minute, fortunately, Chimbamba came to our rescue, and from the rebound, Chunga fired wide from close range.
Pasuwa brought in Chikumbutso Salima and Wongani Lungu for Billiat and Petro in the 65th minute.
Lungu, in the 68th minute, was denied by Chikooka, who refused to be beaten when he produced another save to deny the midfielder from finding the back of the net. From the rebound, Babatunde was caught off guard as he allowed Shema to win the ball when all he needed was to pass it to Salima to punish the Bankers.
The People’s Team continued pressing and another chance came in the 72nd minute when Salima dribbled past Daniel Sandukira before sending a million-dollar pass into the box to Singo, however, the midfielder fired over the crossbar when the goal mouth was wide open, with Silver’s defence and goalkeeper completely beaten in the line of duty.
It was an end-to-end action-packed match, with Bullets creating plenty of goal-scoring chances, but Pasuwa’s men were very wasteful in the final third.
In the 85th minute, Mponda brought in Paul Kansungwi for Maganizo to try to improve his midfield, which was in the hands of the visitors, while Pasuwa replaced Phodo with Ephraim Kondowe.
With 90 minutes played, three minutes were added to the clock, and in the second minute of the stoppages, referee Easter Zimba flashed a second yellow card to Singo for dangerous play against Kansungwi. This decision was protested by Pasuwa’s camp, who felt that the referee was harsh on the defensive midfielder, but in the end, 0-0, it ended.
What it means
The result means the defending champions won’t be able to defend the TNM Super League as they are still 13 points behind the Central Bankers in the title race with four games left to play. Pasuwa’s men are third in the table with 45 points, while Mponda’s charges are topping the table with 58 points.
Looking forward
Our next assignment is another league fixture against Civil Service United at Civo Stadium on Wednesday afternoon, before returning to Blantyre, where another away fixture against FOMO FC awaits at Mulanje Park Stadium on Sunday.
