FCB Nyasa Big Bullets and Mighty Mukuru Wanderers cancelled each other out when they shared the spoils with a goalless draw in a less passionate TNM Super League Blantyre derby clash at Kamuzu Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Kalisto Pasuwa made several changes to his team, moving Precious Sambani into the central midfield in place of Chawanangwa Gumbo whilst Hassan Kajoke replaced Maxwell Phodo upfront as The People’s Team registered a second goalless draw after last weekend’s result away to Kamuzu Barracks.
What happened
Although it was level pegging and goalless at the end of this hyped Blantyre derby, there was no shortage of effort and individual brilliance, especially from the Nomads who had a better game than the defending champions.
Wisdom Mpinganjira was simply in inspired form as he caused havoc with his brilliant runs as a makeshift full-back for the Nomads, whilst Clever Mkungula was in top form between the sticks for Bullets, producing a phenomenal performance to rescue a point for The People’s Team.
Gaddie Chirwa and Misheck Botomani were the driving force behind Nomads’ early attack on Bullets, but every threat was well dealt with by John Lanjesi’s led defence.
Bullets’ first attack came in the 10th minute when Patrick Mwaungulu and Gomezgani Chirwa combined to send an inviting cross into the box but Lawrence Chaziya did well as he put the ball out of danger for a corner kick that Peter Cholopi easily defended.
It was a lacklustre performance from the two teams in the opening minutes, especially the visitors who hardly completed more than four passes. With 20 minutes played, no shot on target was registered by the two rivals.
Mark Harrison’s charges almost found their breakthrough in the 21st minute when Chaziya’s powerful header from Stanley Sanudi’s delivery from a freekick forced Mkungula into making his first save for a corner kick which also demanded his intervention with yet another important save to keep his team in the game.
From that moment, it was Wanderers all over Bullets who were now forced to sit back and defend against a side that looked more organized than Pasuwa’s men.
The Nomads had more than four corner kicks in succession, but Bullets defended with everything as the hosts kept knocking for a breakthrough.
The defending champions were under siege and lost the midfield battle to Felix Zulu and Francis Mkonda, with every ball landing straight at the Nomads who could switch from left to right but the visitors’ defence played a very vital role to keep Wanderers waiting for a goal, which never came.
Wanderers had a decent opportunity in the additional minutes of the opening period when Sanudi’s freekick found Vincent Nyangulu inside the six-yard box, but his header hit the post, denying them an opportunity to take the lead before the recess.
After the interval, Pasuwa brought in Gumbo and Anthony Mfune for Lanjesi and Kajoke, who was silent throughout the opening half.
Just after coming in, Mfune nearly gave Bullets a lead when his attempt was saved by William Thole for a corner kick, which was well-taken by Mwaungulu and met the powerful head of Sambani, who was unfortunate as his effort missed the upright with just an inch.
That was Bullets’ only realistic attack in the entire 90 minutes, a clear indication of how tough the game was for The People’s Team.
Harrison’s charges were playing better than Bullets, knocking the ball around and winning most of the midfield battles with some delightful touches but to unlock Collins Okumu’s-led back-four proved to be a huge task for the 2017 league winners.
In the 60th minute, a quick freekick from Zulu nearly caught Bullets’ defence napping in the line of duty but Mkungulu was very clever as he left his comfort zone to block Mpinganjira’s long-range effort that would have landed in the net.
The Nomads brought in Christopher Kumwembe for Nyangulu in the 63rd minute to try to improve their attacking prowess, but Bullets’ defence stood firm, with every threat in their defensive zone well dealt with to frustrate the hosts.
Precious Phiri came on for Nkhoma in the 64th minute.
There was a commotion inside the Bullets’ half in the 68th minute when Isaac Kaliyati delivered an excellent cross into the box but Kumwembe was late to arrive on the scene, allowing Alick Lungu to make a timely clearance for a throw-in.
At the other end, Mwaungulu should have done better in the 74th minute when he had the opportunity to create something for his team from a set piece which he easily gave away to the hosts who were more organized in every department.
Mpinganjira was again the architect of Wanderers’ breakaway move in the 76th minute. The full-back scampered away on the right before crossing to Kumwembe, who in turn set up Zulu, but the midfielder dithered on the ball.
Lungu gave away a freekick just outside the box and Sanudi picked out Misheck Botomani in the box with an imaginative set-piece routine, but the winger fired over the crossbar for a goal kick.
With six minutes left to play, Pasuwa brought in Righteous Banda for Mwaungulu whilst Vitumbiko Kumwenda replaced Mkonda for the Nomads.
At this moment, Wanderers kept the ball by passing around, from left to right as Bullets kept on chasing for the ball but to break the visitors’ defence was a tall order for Harrison’s charges and in the end, 0-0 it ended.
The result sees Bullets staying in second position with 22 points, three points behind Silver Strikers who were also held to a goalless draw at home by Chitipa United.
The Nomads are third with 19 points. All the top three teams have played eleven games each.
What’s next?
These were the final matches before the Cosafa Cup break, which will see the league taking a break until the tournament in South Africa is over.
But The People’s Team will travel to Lilongwe this coming week for an international friendly game against Yanga S.C. of Tanzania during Malawi’s 59th Independence Celebrations on 6 July.
