Silver labour to 1-0 win over Wizards: Malawi TNM Super League
Silver Strikers Sunday laboured to a hard fought 1-0 win over determined Premier Bet Wizards in the second round of the TNM Super League match played at Silver Stadium in Lilongwe on Sunday .
It took 79 minutes for Silver’s goal poacher Mathews Sibale to found the net for the all important goal as some Silver’s faithfuls were sensing a third consecutive draw as time was running out.
The two teams shared the spoils during the first round encounter played at Mulanje Park when they played out to a goalless draw.
With the win, the Bankers remains second with 37 points from 17 games, one point short of currently leaders, Mighty Be Forward Wanderers but the later has a game in hand while Wizards have dropped to 12 position with 19 points from 18 games.
The Blantyre based side had a fruitless trip to the capital where they came back empty handed after they suffered a 4-1 defeat against Blue Eagles on Saturday at Nankhaka in Area 30.
The opening minutes of the game was power packed in the midfield where Silver’s Young Chimodzi Jnr and Kondwani Mwaila while Wizards Misheck Botomani and Patrick Phiri were a delight to watch.
Silver’s left back, Mark Fodya’s 35 metre kick was well tamed by Wizards keeper Wanipa Gondwe in the 16th minute.
Five minutes later Mwaila had his efforts blasted over the bar after outpacing Wizards defenders, Chembezi Denis and Kelvin Kadzinje.
In the 40th minute, Wizard’s Botomani header from Phiri’s corner kick narrowly went over the cross bar with goalie Brighton Munthali completely beaten.
Just three minutes to break, Silver’s Thuso Paipi volleyed the bar over the bar after he had eluded Wizard’s advancing keeper Gondwe.
The two teams call it equal at interval to the amazement of many and most fans thought it would have been a walk over for the Bankers.
Silver’s coaching panel introduced Timothy Chitedze and Green Harawa for Mwaila and Michael Tetteh to search for a goal while Wizards surprisingly pulled out top form Botomani for Robert Mphenzi.
On 70th minutes overlapping Silver’s central defender Unus Sherif rose to the occasion to nod a corner kick from Blessings Tembo but the ball went over the bar.
11 minutes to time, Sibale cashed home Tembo’s volleyed which was mis timed by Keeper Gondwe before he slot it in.
The remaining minutes saw Wizards Nikiza Aimable surging forwards to cancel Silver’s lead but lacked finishing power.
“We concentrated out play in the midfield and we failed to create scoring chances in both halves,” Silver’s Team Manager Francis Songo summed up.
He said his charges pushed forward to get the much needed goal and thus collecting three points.
Wizard’s Coach, Trevor Kajawa commended his players for playing a better game against despite the loss.
” Only lucky was not on our side but today we have played a more organised game unlike yesterday against Blue Eagles,” he noted.
Silver has stretched the unbeaten record to 17 games and are in for the chase for the title race.
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What do you mean by saying SILVER RABOURED TO WIN?
Do you hate Silver?
Wanderers did the same, they won by 1 goal to nil, but you said nothing wrong about them, don’t be bias please.
Kuwina nkuwina, it doesn’t matter how many goals you scored.