Epac beat Wizards 1-0: Malawi TNM Super League

A brilliant first-half goal through a penalty from Anthony Banda  was enough for Epac FC to secure maximum points against Wizards FC in the TNM Super League on Saturday  in front of a record crowd at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.

The home team, which had 90 per cent of scoring opportunities, have themselves to blame, as they failed to equalize towards the end of the game after being awarded a penalty. Epac goalkeeper saved the penalty.

Epac was a better side in the first 45 minutes, as they piled up pressure to the home team but their finishing was blunt.

For instance, a cross from Lanken Mwale  found Banda  at the far post, but he failed to  direct it at goal.

The visitors were at it again when Banda managed to sneak through a forest of four Wizards defenders but his shot went wide.

In the 30th minute, Wizards appeared to be belatedly waking up – Benard Chimayimba makes  a driving run into the box, cuts onto his  left foot and shoots before it was blocked, and  it went  just wide.

Last chance for Wizards before recess time came in the 44th minute when – Jimmy Chikulekule  crosses over from the left, but it goes nowhere near the forwards in the box and goes straight through to the keeper. a   minute of stoppage time to come.

Come second half, Wizards was a better side but their flowery football was not enough for them to secure a goal.

For instance, the Peter Mponda boys   tried to get into the area from the right side , but they were  taken out fairly cynically by Epac …a challenge that was  bafflingly left unpunished.

Another episode in the Benard Chimayimba and Lanken Mwale files: this time it’s the Wizards  striker  who gets forwards, and Mwale  hacks him to the ground with little subtlety. No card was shown.

Unlucky Wizards  attacked again in the 79th minute  down the right with Chimayimba, who twists and turns and evades Epac defence , but his  shot was  blocked, and a belated attempt at a pass goes astray.

Another huge chance for Wizards came in the 95th minute when they  slides an inch-perfect ball through for Chimayimba, who took  a heavy second touch then scuffs a shot  which was too weak to pass Epac keeper. They genuinely could/should be four or five up.

In post match interviews, Wizards Coach Peter Mponda said it was another bad day in office but insisted his players were too shy to shoot on goal, while Epac coach Audrey Makonyola praised his charges for their victory.