FCB Nyasa Big Bullets moved back to third place in the TNM Super League standings following a 3-0 triumph over Waka Waka Mighty Tigers on Wednesday afternoon at the Kamuzu Stadium.
Chikumbutso Salima scored a brace, and Ronald Chitiyo sealed the victory for The People’s Team against the stubborn Kau Kau Boys.
What happened
With the Airtel Top 8 final set for Saturday in Lilongwe, Kalisto Pasuwa rotated his squad, making eight changes to the side that beat Kamuzu Barracks in the semifinals three days ago.
Clever Mkungula, Blessings Mpokera, Clyde Senaji, Lloyd Aaron, Frank Willard, Chawanangwa Gumbo, Chikumbutso Salima and Maxwell Phodo were all handed starts in place of Richard Chimbamba, Gomezgani Chirwa, Yamikani Mologeni, Alick Lungu, Yankho Singo, Wongani Lungu and Babatunde Adepoju.
From the onset, the defending champions made their intentions known with high-pressing football. We should have been three-nil up in the opening minutes, as Phodo, Aaron, and Gumbo all missed clear-cut chances when they were brilliantly set by Ephraim Kondowe, who started the game on fire.
In the 4th minute, Chikumbutso Salima delivered a cross from a corner kick that met Gumbo. However, the midfielder was very unfortunate as his header missed Lucky Tizola’s left-hand post by an inch.
The visitors were pushing for an early goal and should have found the back of the net in the 5th minute when Phodo’s powerful header hit the upright from Salima’s freekick.
As Bullets kept on wasting chances, Tigers almost punished us when Frank Chizuze beat the offside trap to release Grayson Msowoya, who was in a one-on-one situation with Mkungula but fired wide.
The day worsened for The People’s Team as Phodo was substituted for Lameck Gamphani in the 19th minute after he sustained an injury.
With 22 minutes played, Mkungula came to Bullets’ rescue with a fantastic save to prevent Ben Manyozo from scoring. Chrispin Mapemba defended a corner kick that was conceded in the process.
In unbelievable circumstances, just after the half-hour mark, Pasuwa’s men missed a golden opportunity to break the deadlock.
Salima delivered a pass into the six-yard area, finding Gamphani at the far end. The winger saw his attempt blocked by Alex Kambilinya near-post before Steve Nkhoma also denied Aaron from pouncing. From the rebound, Kondowe’s effort was stopped by Tizola.
Tizola refused to be beaten as he continued denying the visiting team. In the 40th minute, the Tigers goalie produced another save to prevent Salima from finding the back of the net.
Finally, he was beaten in the additional minutes of the opening half as Gumbo found Salima inside the penalty area, and the winger made no mistake in slotting the ball past Tizola, giving Bullets a deserving lead before the recess.
After the interval, it only took five minutes for Bullets to create a scoring chance when Mapemba, Gamphani, Willard, and Kondowe exchanged passes to find Aaron on the edge of the box, but the midfielder saw his effort missing the right-hand post with an inch.
In the 55th minute, Leo Mpulura brought in Precious Chipungu and Messiah Kachingwe for Msowoya and Wongani Kamanga to try to improve the team’s attacking prowess.
For Bullets, it was just a matter of managing the game. Though they struggled to keep possession in the final third, Tigers tried to push for a goal but posed no threat as the visitors defended with everything to keep a clean sheet.
Pasuwa brought in Ernest Petro, Mologeni, and Ronald Chitiyo for Gumbo, Willard, and Mpokera in the 60th minute.
In the 67th minute, Mkungula was called to action when he produced a double save to prevent Chizuze from scoring. Bullets’ back four failed to deal with Kambilinya’s long ball into the box.
Kondowe was denied a chance to register his name on the scoresheet in the 69th minute when his strike from Petro’s cross hit the woodwork.
Mpulura brought in Chizuze for Zikani Munthali in the 70th minute.
We doubled our lead in the 72nd minute when another cross from Salima found Salima, whose first attempt was saved by Tizola. Our number 11 powered the ball home from the rebound, 0-2.
Pasuwa brought in Mathews Masamba and Precious Phiri for Salima and Kondowe with 15 minutes left on the clock.
Bullets completed Wednesday’s mission in the 82nd minute through Chitiyo, who smartly pounced from Mologeni’s cross from the right flank to make it 0-3.
Tigers pushed for a consolation goal, but Bullets held on to record a convincing win against Mpulura’s men.
What it means
The midweek victory means the defending champions moved back into the top three of the TNM Super League with 44 points from 25 games.
After playing a game more than Silver Strikers and Mighty Mukuru Wanderers, Bullets are 10 points behind the Central Bankers, who lead the standings. We trail the second-placed Nomads by three points.
Looking forward
Our next mission is Saturday’s grand finale in the Airtel Top 8 against Silver Strikers at the Bingu National Stadium, where we will seek to defend the cup.
