Tigers undermine Eagles’ title ambitions: Malawi TNM Super League
Azam Tigers FC on Saturday, October 18, 2014 undermined Blue Eagles’ ambitions of winning the TNM Super League title for the first time when they clobbered the cops 2-0 at their own backyard of Nankhaka Ground in Area 30.
Needing maximum points to inch closer to the top two teams, the cops’ mission was made difficult midway into the first half when Isaac Kaliati beat advancing Eagles goalkeeper to make it 1-0 for thevisitors.
In a desperate effort to contain the marauding Tigers, Eagles’ coach Deklerk Msakakuona pulled out three of his charges- Stewart Mbunge, Chisomo Chilasa and Schumaker Kuwali replacing them with Vitumbiko Kumwenda, Maxwell Salambula and Reuben Kaunda but the move never paid any dividends.
Eagles’ hopes for an equalizer vanished into thin air in the 86th minute when former Wanderers’ striker Diverson Chilemba added the second after the hosts’ defence had failed to deal with a high ball.
Msakakuona was at a loss for words after 90 minutes.
“May be it was not our day. Tigers looked more prepared than us and they did everything the right way,” said a dejected Msakakuona after the whistle.
But Tigers’ technical director Robin ‘Abambo’ Alufandika was on cloud nine, praising his charges for a mission well accomplished.
“Our aim is to finish amongst the top three and we will continue pushing for that,” said Alufandika, whose side will be completing its central region tour with a fixture against Epac FC at Civo Stadium on Sunday.
The win moved Tigers to fifth position with 34 points from 22 games while Eagles remained stuck on 40 points from 21 games, seven behind leaders Big Bullets and four behind second-placed Moyale Barracks.
In other games played on Saturday, Silver Strikers crashed Airborne Rangers 3-1 at Chitowe Stadium with their city rivals Civo United suffering a shock 2-1 defeat at the hands of underdogs side Karonga
United. With the win, Karonga have now moved from 15th to 13th position, eventually surrendering the wooden spoon to Blantyre United.
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