By McLloyd Kudzingo
Silver Strikers won to go seven points clear at the top of the TNM Super League, but their win was soiled by some ugly scenes towards the end of the match.
Chinsisi Maonga came off the bench to score in the 90th minute in a brilliant counter attack move after receiving a superb pass from Patrick Macheso.
The goal sparked ugly scenes inside the stadium as irate Bullets fans started throwing missiles onto the pitch, a thing which forced referee Gift Chiko to end the match before the end of the added 5 minutes.
Sunday’s match was an opportunity for the People’s team to reduce the gap between themselves and the capital city giants but the Peter Mponda’s men did their best to maintain their perfect start to the 2024 season.
The home team started the game on a high note and they almost got a goal just three minutes from kick-off but Silver defender Maxwell Paipi and goalkeeper George Chikooka made it possible to deny Lanjesi Nkhoma and Precious Phiri an early goal.
The visitors’ opportunity came in the 11th minute when Uchizi Vunga managed to beat two Bullets defenders but his pass to Charles Chipala was not that good and the ball went for a goal-kick.
Seven minutes later Bullets’ Patrick Mwaungulu was found unmarked by Yankho Singo’s delivery inside the penalty box but his shot was denied by the woodwork.
Chikooka produced two fantastic saves in the 28th and 38th minutes to deny Phiri and Nkhoma what could have been beautiful goals for the home side.
Bullets continued to dominate in the first half but were not too clinical in front of goals with Nigerian striker Babatunde Adepoju among the culprits.
The second half saw the central bankers becoming a changed side as they started to play their usual passing game and created a number of scoring opportunities.
Substitute Stain Davie almost put his name on the score-sheet but his header missed goalkeeper Innocent Nyasulu’s upright by a whisker.
Just two minutes before Silver’s goal, Bullets captain Gomezgani Chirwa missed a clear-cut chance inside the box as his volley went off target.
In the 88th minute, Silver coach Peter Mponda substituted Binwell Katinji for Chinsinsi Maonga whose first touch was the last one for the match as he scored the only goal of the match just two minutes after being introduced to hand Bullets their first defeat of the season.
After the match, Silver goalkeeper George Chikooka who was voted Man of the Match.
The win means that Silver have now accumulated 25 points from nine games while Bullets remain fifth on the log table with 14 points from the same number of game.
Bullets could face Super League of Malawi (Sulom) action as ugly scenes which forced the match to end prematurely continued after the final whistle, with footage and pictures showing Silver Strikers Bus smashed by the irate Bullets fans.
Elsewhere, Bangwe All Stars got their first victory in the TNM Super League this season as they thump the struggling Chitipa United 3-nil at Mpira Stadium.
James Msowoya, Clever Chikwata and Justice Honde were on target for the Bangwe outfit and their player James Tambwali was voted man of the match.
Bangwe are now third from the bottom with six points followed by Chitipa who are on position 15 with five points and rookies Baka City are anchoring the log table with three points.
