Chitipa United succumb to Chipungu’s late magic

Mighty Waka Waka Tigers captain, Precious Chipungu, netted a 92nd-minute winner as the Kaukau boys secured their first away win in a 1-0 victory over Chitipa United at the Karonga Stadium on Thursday afternoon.

The Kaukau boys went into the match after losing to Karonga United at the same venue last weekend and had their goalkeeper, Lucky Tizola, voted the player of the match for his blistering performance in the match before Chipungu securing a precious win.

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Head coach for Tigers, Leo Mpulula, said he is happy to collect three points away from home and that those points will help the team to settle well as he wants to make Tigers a good side as it was in the past decades.

“I am happy that we have won, I think today it was more improved than our last game which the boys looked fatigued but in this game, we were on the ball that enabled us to play our passing game and we created chances in the first half but we missed. Second half, we brought in Irvine [Mwakapenda] and that young boy [Zikani Munthali] so we could attack more and it really worked we got a goal, and a win that will push us further.” Said Mpulula.

Meanwhile, the Second Assistant coach for the Basongo, Gift Nathaniel, said his team lost it in the dying minutes of the game as they played very well in the match.

“It was a good game and the boys played very well only that we lost it at the end when we conceded that late goal but it was not bad, the play was good but sad that we have lost the game.” Said Nathaniel.

The hosts started on a high note after missing two chances in the opening two minutes before Gideon Sululu shot wide and Ramadan Ntafu hit the post in the 12th minute as the Basongo searched for an early goal. Precious Chipungu saw his shot going straight to the goalkeeper before Chris Lwemba cleared the ball off the line as Precious Chiudza went close to scoring in the 18th minute.

Francis Nyirenda and Chris Lwemba missed their attempts on the half-hour mark as the hosts tried to attack and Chiudza missed a great chance in the 37th minute but Stimella Muyira sent his effort to Lucky Tizola then Pascal Mbwanje missed his effort with only the goalkeeper to beat in the stoppage time of the first half.

Mbwanje was replaced by Steve Saka in the second half for Chitipa United while Irvine Mwakapenda replaced Bright Mtondagowa for Tigers before Sululu had his attempt going wide. Injured Kennedy Power was replaced by Rajab Nyirenda while Masambelo Kalua paved the way for Zikani Munthali for the visitors before Tizola denied Sululu on two occasions.

Shukurani Afick went close to opening the scores as he blasted his effort over the bar with the goalkeeper to beat in the 73rd minute then Dumisani Jere came in for Nyirenda before Kelvin Banda missed the target and Ntafu also missed in the 89th minute. A delicious ball from Afick was sent into Chipungu’s path to score and put the visitors ahead in the 92nd minute before Chiudza missed his chance to double the lead but the Kaukau boys claimed a win.

Following the win, Tigers are back to 8th with 7 points from 5 games, having won twice, drawn once, and lost two games while Chitipa United have only one win in five games as they have only three points on position 13.