Red Lions wallop Silver 5-2: Malawi TNM Super League
Red Lions FC produced a sterling performance to emphatically beat Silver Strikers 5-2 in a TNM Super League encounter which was played at Zomba Community Centre ground on Sunday.
Four goals from Kumbukani Mwambene and one from Matthews Simbeye enabled the soldiers to collect maximum points.
Barely 24 hours after seeing off Chikwawa United 2-0 in Nchalo on Saturday, the Bankers started the game on a promising note. Pint-sized striker Green Harawa put his side ahead in the 20th minute when he pounced on a loose ball inside the soldiers’ goal area.
A blistering run on the right by Blessings Tembo saw him release a low cross which was tapped into the net by Harawa after Red Lions defenders developed cold feet inside their goal area.
A few minutes later, hard working striker Moses Nankumba was unlucky to see his effort strike the upright. He combined well with his striking partner Mwambene, who was named man-of-the-match.
But Mwambene levelled matters in the 30th minute with a brilliant left-foot shot that whizzed past the unsuspecting Blessings Kameza in goals for the Bankers.
Nonetheless, the soldiers were denied what could have been a penalty when Kameza clipped the advancing Loti Chawinga inside the goal area. Referee Ben Chongwa saw it otherwise
and allowed play to continue.
Kameza got injured in the process and was replaced by Flames goal minder Charles Swini.
Four minutes from the restart, Silver substitute Lazarus Nyemera had his goal disallowed for offside after Blessings Tembo had done the spadework on the right.
Mwambene claimed a brace after capitalizing on a defensive blunder by Lucky Malata to make it 2-1 in favour of Red Lions. Matthews Simbeye put the game beyond reach with a 25-metre low shot before Mwambene scored his third but fourth for his side.
Thereafter, Silver Strikers looked dead and buried as Mwambene outpaced two of his markers to hammer the last nail on the coffin. Sam Gunda reduced the deficit with a glancing header from a Blessings Tembo free-kick but it was too little too late to save the day.
Silver Strikers coach Stain Chirwa was loss of words after the match.
“It was a good game in the first half but things went horribly wrong in the second. We were outplayed and hard luck to my boys,” he said.
His counterpart Billy Phambala attributed the win to hard working spirit displayed by his charges after ringing changes to the line-up.
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