By McLloyd Kudzingo
Chinsinsi Maonga scored a brace as Silver Strikers thumped Dedza Dynamos 4-1 in the first leg of the Airtel Top 8 at Silver Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.
Chimwemwe Idana put the home side ahead just 12 minutes into the match after beating three defenders before hitting the back of the net with his left foot.
Following the goal, Silver Strikers continued to dominate possession in the field of play but their strikers were not clinical in front of goal.
Dedza had a chance to level the scores in the 34th minute but Chifuniro Mpinganjira’s header went over the cross bar.
The visitors came again a minute later when Gift Magola beat two Silver Strikers defenders before shooting with his right foot but goalkeeper Pilirani Mapira was equal to the task.
Just the time when Dedza seemed to be settling into the game, Zebron Kalima scored the second goal of the match, five minutes before half time to double the lead for the central bankers.
In the second half, Dedza pulled one back in the 52nd minute through Chifuniro Mpinganjira after a goalkeeping error by Mapira.
Chinsinsi Maonga restored Silver’s two-goal-lead in the 65th minute as he scored with a simple tap-in following a commotion in Dynamo’s defence.
Maonga completed his brace in the 82nd minute after connecting well a cross from Chimwemwe Idana.
After the match, Silver Strikers player Zebron Kalima was voted man of the match.
Following the loss, Dedza have a daunting task ahead to upset the tables as the two sides meet again in the second leg on October 20, at Dedza Stadium.
