Red Lions have ascended to the top of the NBS Bank National Division League, securing their fifth consecutive win with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Ntaja United at Balaka Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Mathews Simbeyi scored the lone goal in the 82nd minute, propelling the Lions past Mitundu Baptist to claim the top spot.
“It was a tough match, playing Ntaja is like meeting a rival, but getting these three points has helped us move to the top of the League,” said Red Lions head coach Malumbo Mkandawire.
Ntaja United head coach Chisomo Kamlanje lamented his team’s missed opportunities. “It was a good game; we played well and created chances that we failed to score. Our opponents got one chance and scored, so that’s what happens when you miss opportunities – you get stunned.”
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The win gives Red Lions 15 points from five wins and one defeat. Ntaja United, with 10 points from three wins, one draw, and two defeats, remain in seventh position.
Bangwe All Stars and Baka City Also Victorious
In Blantyre, Bangwe All Stars clinched their fourth win of the season, jumping to third place after a dominant 5-2 performance against Mchinji Villa at Mpira Stadium. Moses Gunde and Selemani Mussah each bagged a brace, while Dyson Moffat added another for the hosts. Jafali John and Kumbukani Bufote scored for the visitors in the thrilling seven-goal encounter.
Bangwe All Stars head coach Isaac ‘Jomo’ Osman praised his team: “Let me thank God for the win and also the players for working hard to get this result. I’m happy for the win.”
Mchinji Villa head coach Eliya Phiri acknowledged a strong start but lamented missed chances. “It was a good game, we started well, but we missed the chances we got, and our opponents scored twice. We tried to come back, but we conceded more goals.”
Bangwe now has 12 points from four wins and two defeats, placing them third. Mchinji Villa remains winless with three points from three draws and three defeats, sitting in eleventh.
Baka City remains the only unbeaten team in the League after defeating strugglers Jenda United 2-0 at Kasungu Stadium. Hastings Ndau and Danken Mhango scored in the first half, securing Baka City’s third win of the season and putting them three points behind the top spot.
“I’m happy for the win because we’ve been playing away from home, and this is our fourth match, where we were just getting draws. So I’m happy that we have won today,” said Baka City’s Victor Mwakhwawa, celebrating their first away win.
Jenda United head coach Uchizi Nkunika expressed disappointment: “We have received the result in a hard way. It is a disappointing defeat, but we move on.”
Baka City is fourth on the table with 12 points from three wins and three draws, while Jenda United remains without a point in six games, anchoring the 12-team table.
Ndirande Stars Break Their Duck
In Mulanje, Ndirande Stars secured their first League victory, beating FOMO 3-2 in a five-goal thriller at Mulanje Park Stadium. The hosts took the lead twice through Chimwemwe Kamowa and Chitsanzo Saidi, but Madalitso Geoffrey and Gerald Sangala leveled before halftime. Geoffrey then netted a 70th-minute winner to seal the historic win for the Stars.
Assistant head coach for Ndirande Stars, Robert Daudi, emphasized the importance of the win: “It’s a good win considering that we had no win. So winning away from home and against a team like FOMO FC is great.”
FOMO FC’s Jimmy Zakazaka was critical of his team’s performance. “A very bad result as we did not play well in the whole game. Despite scoring goals, we continuously made mistakes, and our opponents were scoring in empty nets, so it was so bad.”
Ndirande Stars move up to ninth on the table with 5 points from one win, two draws, and three defeats. FOMO is eighth with 6 points from two wins and four defeats.
A total of 23 goals were scored in Week 6 of the League, with Bangwe All Stars being the highest-scoring team. The week saw five wins and one draw.
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