Nomads staying up, beat Red Lions: Malawi TNM Super League
After a season of so much torment and frustration, and facing the prospect of a relagation, Mighty Wanderers seem to have found their winning streak with interim head coach Yasin Osman as on Sunday the blues registered his second win out of two at Balaka Stadium as the Nomads beat Red Lions 2-1in a thrilling but high tempered game.
Osman, a Nomad through and through, took charge of the Lali Lubani Road boys after Phiri, recently resigned after a poor run of results.
On Sunday, Wanderers first knocked at Lions goal in the 3rd minute through a corner kick from Mike Kaziputa but goalkeeper Clement Mlombwa was alert and pared the ball over the bar.
Nomads early counter attacks paid off in the 7th minute when upcoming talented Mapopa Kaunda produced a thunderous shot from outside the penalty box which was deflected into the net through a hand by a Lions defender.
Referee Dennis Ngulube allowed the goal and did not give a penalty.
Lions star Kumbukane Mwambene cancelled the lead in the 12th minute.
Kondwani Kumwenda, Mike Kaziputa and Cuthbert Sinetre who led the nomads attacking machinery tried their best to penetrate and take the lead again but their efforts were fruitless.
On the other hand, Mwambene, Lottie Chabinga, Matthews Simbey and Innocent Bokosi also tried their best to put the game at 50-50 interms of possession.
Controversy
The game turned controversial in the 37 minutes when nomads scored the second goal. Lions players and technical panel protested against the goal accusing the referee of favouring the Nomads.
They suggested a Nomads player had pushed a Lions defender who further staggered to push his own goalkeeper into the ground losing the ball in the process which he had already grabbed.
Overlapping defender Bongani Kaipa rushed to capitalize on the mistake becoming the midwife if not the creator by passing the ball to Kumwenda who made no mistake to blast the ball into an empty net.
Referee Ngulube showed Red Lions head coach Collins Nkuna marching orders for allegedly using a foul language towards the assistant referee.
After the incident, the game turned into more physical. Lions players were noticed on several occasions hitting Nomads players in an off the ball incidents but escaped red cards.
Osman said after the match:“I am very happy that we have won but it was a very tough game because our opponents were playing a more physical game”
Red Lions assistant coach Prichard Mwansa hailed his troops for displaying good football despite losing.
“We have lost but we played very well. Our opponents also played very so what else can I say that’s part of the game,” said Mwansa.
Despite being on the losing side, Kumbukani Mwambene was deservingly voted man of the match.
Mighty Wanderers have now collected 27 points from 22 games.
Elsewhere, Civo United beat Moyale Barracks in Mzuzu 2-1 while Tigers successfully completed their central region tour with a convincing 3-0 win over Epac.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
well done boys
ENFORT PAYS, G PHIRI AMANYANYA KUPONDEREZA NOW GWIRANI TCHITO ANYAMATA PAGROUND OSAVERA ZA AGALU ENAWA PAJA ZAKUVA KUPWETEKETSA MUTU
zogwela
nyerere woyee pitirizani anyamata ntchito ili bwino kwambiri
Keep it up boys
Mumaluza dala coz gerrald phiri simmamufuna kma umenewo nd umbuli muli nd mway chfukwa sindtukwana