Silver Strike Twice to Down Dedza

Silver Strikers edged Premier Bet Dedza Dynamos at Silver Stadium on Wednesday afternoon, July 30. Goals from Chinsinsi Maonga and substitute Binwell Katinji were enough to hand the hosts all three points, while Marco Chiwaya’s header briefly brought Dedza level in the first half.

The game kicked off with high intensity, and it did not take long for the home side to assert their dominance. Just three minutes in, MacDonald Lameck whipped in a low cross from the byline and found Chinsinsi Maonga, who made no mistake with a simple tap-in. It was the perfect start for the Central Bankers.

Silver could have doubled their lead moments later when Lameck delivered a teasing free kick into the box. Stain Davie rose highest but failed to hit the target, heading wide with Dedza goalkeeper Shingirai Thole stranded.

MORE NEWS FROM WAMPIRA

Dedza, though under pressure, had their moments. A long ball from Thole found Chiwaya in the box, but his scissor-kick attempt was comfortably collected by George Chikooka in goal. Moments later, a double substitution was forced upon the visitors when Otchaya Okot limped off after a clash, with David Habu and Winston Chimutu coming on to replace Okot and Frank Chikufenji to steady things at the back.

Silver continued to create chances. Uchizi Vunga sent in a curling cross from the left to Zebron Kalima, who squandered a golden opportunity with Thole already beaten. That miss proved costly as Dedza found an equalizer in the 26th minute. Gift Gidess Magola delivered a corner, and Chiwaya met it with a powerful header to bring the game back on level terms.

The match was stopped briefly after Chiwaya was fouled by Chisomo Mpachika, but he managed to continue. Magola went into the referee’s book for a foul on Vunga as tensions rose.

The end of the first half saw drama unfold. Mpachika’s back pass nearly cost Silver as Chikooka mishandled it, allowing Chiwaya to sneak in. His effort hit the crossbar and just as he was about to follow up, Mpachika shoved him, but the referee waved play on. Silver immediately launched a counter with Uchizi firing a thunderbolt that Thole did well to tip over. As tempers flared, Dedza coach Alex Ngwira lost his cool and was seen shoving the fourth official just before the halftime whistle.

The second half resumed with both teams looking for a breakthrough. Dakalira fouled Kalima in a dangerous area but Lameck’s free kick was wasted. At the hour mark, Silver brought on Binwell Katinji for Mpachika while Dedza introduced Tayani Phiri in place of Kanyika.

Dedza looked to steal a lead through another Magola corner but Chiwaya fluffed his lines. With twenty minutes to play, Silver made more changes, bringing in Precious Sambani for Dan Sandukira and later Chipala for Maonga.

Dan Mponya’s reckless foul on Kalima earned him a caution, and soon after, the turning point arrived. In the 80th minute, Chipala delivered a well-placed cross into the box, and Katinji showed up to the occasion, slotting home to restore Silver’s lead.

As the clock wound down, Nickson Mwase was booked for time-wasting and four minutes were added on, but Dedza failed to find another equalizer. At full time, Silver Strikers walked away with a hard-fought 2-1 victory.

Levison Maganizo was voted Man of the Match for his composed midfield performance that held Silver together during tense moments. The accolade was his second in successive as he also won it last Saturday in Silver’s 3-1 victory over Ekhaya FC.

The Central Bankers sit in the third position on the log having played 13 games and managed to collect 26 points in 7 wins and 5 draws and a single defeat which came in the leagues opening match against second placed FCB Nyasa Big Bullets.

Meanwhile, Dedza Dynamos sit in the 12th position having played 14 games and managed to collect 15 points in four wins, 3 draws and 7 defeats.