Saizi scores twice as Bangwe stun Silver Strikers

Bangwe All Stars are slowly booking their next season’s elite league licence as they have moved to the 8th spot on the Log table.

Bangwe hogged headlines on Sunday afternoon after stunning Pieter De Jongh’s Silver Strikers at the Kamuzu Stadium. Robert Saizi bagged a brace, Yamikani Mologeni scored one goal as Adiel Kaduya and Atusaye Nyondo’s strike were not enough to save the Champs away from home.

Saizi who was one of the players that starred for the Malawi National Team at the 2023 Cosafa Cup in South Africa left it late to stun Silver Strikers who were hunting for the winner. Seizi timed well Emmanuel Lino’s movement down the right flank after exchanging passes with Mologeni and Silver’ s defence slept. The moment that changed the narration.

Bangwe All Stars went into the game dogging for their 8th game unbeaten run. Silver Strikers were all about finding their form and returning to winning ways.

A goal attempt from each side was recorded within the first 10 minutes but the deadlock couldn’t have been broken. Stain Davie came too close to steal the lead for the Bankers but his effort was easily tamed by the goalkeeper Elias Missi.

Silver Strikers were all over the ground in the first part of the first half with Chinsisi Maonga leading the threat.

Against the run of play, Bangwe All Stars were in front just before the half hour mark. Maxwell Paipi did a blunder and Bangwe seized on it as Friday Osagie played Saize through and the youngster had little work to thunder it home.

Yamikani Mologeni extended Bangwe’s lead from the direct free-kick after beating Charles Thom. Silver breathed fire in their hunt for the goal and Stain Davie was in thick of action but his looping header was palmed away by Missi before Maonga blazed his shot from free-kick over the bar.

Adiel Kaduya twice invited Missi to make saves inside the first 10 minutes in the second half and Stain Davie was hooked off for Nyondo to electrify their attack.

Nyondo’s impact was imminent, he set up Kaduya for the opening goal. Chansisi Maonga whipped the ball and Nyondo flicked into the path of Kaduya who pounced on it and place it against the wall of the net.

Atusaye levelled the scores just minutes later and the Bankers were hoping for a dramatic comeback. Maonga curled the ball towards Nyondo who planted his shot home to bring the game to level terms.

George Chaomba powerful effort was saved by Missi while Emmanuel Muyira’s shot flew over the bar.

Osagie nearly grabbed the winner for Bangwe but he was unlucky to rattle the post after connecting Saizi’s cross. Osagie again misses Thom’s post after being found unnarked in the opposition’s half.

A heartbreaking moment came in. Link charged down the right flank, he sneaked through Silver’s defence to spot Saizi in the penalty area who hit the roof of the net to grab the winner.

Silver Strikers have now failed to leapfrog FCB Nyasa Big Bullets from the top even after playing a game more. It was their 4th defeat of the season but three of them have come away from home.

Heading to Blantyre, the Bankers were coming from a 1-0 defeat to Red Lions and they lost two of their three games in the second round.

On the other side, Bangwe All Stars have now played 8 games undefeated in the elite league. Their last defeat was against Civil Service United in Lilongwe and the new technical panel led by Abel Mkandawire seems to have found the rhythm of the team.