Karonga United, Wizards share points
Karonga United and Premier Bet Wizards got a point each in their TNM Super League encounter played before a sizeable crowd at Mzuzu Stadium on Sunday.
With the weather at 30 degrees Celsius, the crocodiles of Karonga were in control from the outset with their long passes which proved difficult for the wizards to deal with.
Ten minutes into the game, Green Msowoya for Karonga United was fouled 35 metres away from the Wizards goal. Hygiene Mwandepeka stepped to take the deservedly earned free kick. His powerful shot went over the Wizards’ human wall and straight to the roof of the net on the right leaving goalkeeper Francis Mkanda with no suitable answer, reminding the soccer fraternity of what he did against Nyasa Big Bullets at the same venue.
Mentor for Wizards, Peter Mponda, was forced to pull out Jide Mbandambanda in the 23rd minute, replacing him with Peter Msowoya. This never worked though for Wizards until referee Mercy Mziya blew for half time with the crocodiles of Karonga still leading by a goal to nil.
In the second half, Premier Bet Wizards tried to play their game, stringing some passes together but they could still not hit the target.
In the 58th minute, Mponda introduced Keston Kasonda onto the field of play in place of Peter Msowoya who had also gone in as a sub in the first half.
The battle continued with Karonga United fans hoping to amass maximum three points until the 80th minute when such hopes were shattered.
Karonga United goalkeeper Lloyd Munthali failed to deal with a sharp cross that came from the right, gifting substitute Frank Mtalimanja for Wizards, an opportunity to tap the ball with his right foot into the net.
After 90 minutes and three more added, it was still Karonga United 1, and Premier Bet Wizards 1.
“We did not play our usual game. I’m not satisfied with a point. But we still have more games to play at home in Blantyre and nobody should label us as relegation candidates yet,” explained Peter Mponda after the game.
Coach for Karonga United, Kondwani Mwalweni attributed his team’s draw to what he called very poor officiation.
“We could have won the game but today’s officiation was just very poor. My boys played very well but poor officiation has done us great harm,” he added.
Wizards now have 19 points and are still fourth from the bottom on the log while Karonga United now have 18 points and are still lying third from the bottom.
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