Bullets put four past Red Lions

By Antony Isaiah Jr……

Rampant FCB Nyasa Big Bullets made a strong statement in their bid to defend the 2023 TNM Super League as they put a strong foot to ruthlessly batter struggling Red Lions at Kamuzu Stadium.

Lanjesi Nkhoma scored in the first-half while Anthony Mfune, Stanley Billiat and Precious Sambani had to pillage a goal each in the second-half and hand Zomba based Soldiers their third straight defeat and fifth of the season.

Red Lions have conceded now 18 goals in their last five visits to Kamuzu Stadium against Bullets.

The victory saw the people’s extending their lead at the summit of the table to 2 points following Silver Strikers’ drubbing 4-1 win over Bangwe All Stars while Red Lions are remain 15th on the table with 4 points.

In their next game, Bullets will travel to Karonga to face Chitipa United which shocked Mighty Mukuru Wanderers on Saturday with a 1-0 win while Red Lions are taking on Bangwe All Stars who have suffered three straight defeats.

Wasteful Bullets keep Lions alive in the first-half

Straight from a 1-all stalemate against Civil Service United, Kalisto Pasuwa had to make four changes as he reshuffled the back four with Precious Sambani, Cylide Senaji, Collins Odhiambo Okumu and Gomezgani Chirwa called back into the starting Xi while Chawanangwa Gumbo was the new man in the engine room.

Red Lions FC who were from two straight losses escaped a demolition in the first-half, thanks to FCB Nyasa Big Bullets’ profligacy as they had to miss several chances.

Overall, Bullets had three goals ruled out for offsides, hitting the posts twice.

Knowing that any slip up would allow Silver Strikers to gain the leading role on the table, the hosts had a bright start. Chawanangwa Gumbo was denied his first goal of the Club after being set by Lanjesi Nkhoma as his curling effort rattled the outside of the right upright just two minutes from the word go.

Gasten Phodo has been the centre of criticism for failing to score in now seven games but Pasuwa knows the reason why he keeps on using him. He had registered his second assist just five minutes into the game.

Collins Odhiambo Ukumu who had partnered his countryman Clyde Senaji Navade at the back had to be the starter of the swift move. A grass-cutting pass he played to Mwaungulu who had left his line to add numbers in midfield, the last year discovery of the season played a one touch pass to Gome who combined with Phodo. With Nkhoma to the other end, Phodo just played a through ball and the number 19 placed the ball against the back of the net to give the hosts the lead.

Even the most optimistic few supporters that turned out to support the visitors surely feared the worst with just 15 minutes on the clock. Phodo and Nkhoma had missed two chances each.

Red Lions grew up in the game and it would have turned sour to the hosts when Okumu made a blunder st the back but Zikhole Ngulube was far away from stabbing it home.

Enerst Petro arrowed a shot that missed Nenani Juwaya post before the goalkeeper denied Nkhoma from taking his tally to 8 this season. Benerdetta Kwimbira had her flag up when Nkhoma thought that he had repented his sins as his goal was chopped off for offside.

James Mwetse had his long-range shot being tipped over by Richard Chimbamba who made his seventh start of the season. Bullets attacked through Phodo but with the goal gapping, the striker opted to lay it off to Nkhoma, only to see his pass being cut by Charles Manondo.

The visitors nearly equalised towards the end of the first-half after Okumu and Senaji caught off guard, thanks to Chimbamba’s alertness as he had to make a brilliant save to deny Davie Major from frustrating the Palestines who had thronged the Kamuzu Stadium.

A flurry of quick goals down Lions

Picking up from where they left in the first 45 minutes, Bullets had to show that they were not satisfied with a 1-0 lead as Maxwell Phodo had his shot palmed away by Juwaya just five minutes into the second-half, Mwetse and Gibson Nkhonjera had to deny Nkhoma and Phodo respectively.

Phodo saw his goal being ruled out for offsides after being played through Lanjesi Nkhoma.

Pasuwa made double changes as Anthony Mfune and Stanley Billiati took over the stages left by Gasten Phodo and Mwaungulu. Mfune only needed five minutes to register his name on the scoresheet.

Nkhoma and Sambani combined down the left and the first one burst forward and he played a simple pass to Mfune who just tapped it in to make it 2-0 in the 70th minute.

Hankey Machira and Ferguson Mtondo replaced Andrew Biyo and Hadji Kung’unde for Red Lions whilst Kenneth Pasuwa, Blessings Mpokera and MacFarlane Mgwira replaced Frank Willard, Lanjesi Nkhoma and Chawanangwa Gumbo in the 80th minute.

Stanley Billiat had his rocket hitting the back of the net before Precious Sambani scored a looping header, he had his first header being denied by the post.