By McLloyd Kudzingo
It was an entertaining Blantyre derby on Sunday as both Mighty Wanderers
and Nyasa Big Bullets found the back of the net on three occasions with the People’s team giving away a 3-1 lead to draw 3-all against the Nomads
It was a game of equal chances with both sides playing a very beautiful passing game to the excitement of a huge crowd that filled the county’s soccer Cathedral.
Wanderers made one change to its starting lineup that beat Dedza Dynamos last weekend bringing in Chiukepo Msowoya for Muhammad Sulumba to partner Vincent Nyangulu upfront.
Bullets on the other hand brought in Clever Mkungula for Richard Chimbamba in goals.
Both teams started very well-creating a number of scoring opportunities but it was Lanjesi Nkhoma who broke the deadlock in the 26th minute with a clinical finish after a defensive error by Wanderers.
Patrick Mwaungulu doubled Bullets’ lead in the 31st minute after he dribbled past Ted Sumani from the right flank.
Wanderers pulled one back from the penalty spot after goalkeeper Clever Mkungula fouled Vincent Nyangulu in the 35th minute.
Bullets scored the third goal just 4 minutes in the second half through Chimwemwe Idana who beat three Wanderers defenders to release a thunderous strike which proved to be too strong for Wanderers’ youthful goalkeeper Pilirani Mapira.
Wanderers Coach Alex Ngwira responded to Idana’s goal with three substitutions bringing in Francis Mkonda, Misheck Botomani and Joseph Balakasi for Alfred Manyozo Jnr, Isaac Kaliati and Ted Sumani.
Ngwira then introduced Vitumbiko Kumwenda for Vincent Nyangulu and Muhammad Sulumba for a fellow former Bullets player Chiukepo Msowoya who received a standing ovation from Bullets fans.
His counterpart Kalisto Pasuwa replaced goal scorers Patrick Mwaungulu and Lanjesi Nkhoma with Hassan Kajoke and MacFarlane Mgwira
The changes yielded some results for Wanderers as they created more scoring opportunities in the second half that saw Miracle Gabeya scoring with a powerful header from a corner kick in the 74th minute.
Bullets tried to increase their lead but Wanderers defense proved too strong for Babatunde Adepoju and Hassan Kajoke.
The Nomads on the other hand tried their best to get an equaliser but Bullets managed to contain the pressure until 87th minute when Muhammad Sulumba punished his former team with a beautiful header.
The draw means Bullets have failed to get six points on top of their rivals this season after beating them 2-1 in the first round but gave away the lead in Sunday’s game.
The result means Bullets remain top with 49 points while Wanderers have now dropped to fourth position after accumulating 33 points.
In other matches played on Sunday Dedza Dynamos got a deserving away win after thrashing TN Stars 3-0 at Kasungu Stadium.
Charles Chipala claimed a brace and Gift Magola scored the other goal for the Dedza outfit
In Karonga, Kamuzu Barracks beat Karonga United 1-0 with Zeliat Nkhoma scoring the only goal of the match.
Elsewhere, Mafco FC came from behind to beat Rumphi United 3-1 with Mphatso Philimon scoring all the the three goals for the Salima-based Soldiers
