Soldiers escape hungry Tigers’ late fight back

Two late goals from Dan Manda and Masambelo Kalua were not enough for Mighty Waka Waka Tigers to seal a classy comeback as they lost to Kamuzu Barracks 2-3 in a five-goal thriller played at the Kamuzu Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The Soldiers scored twice in the first half through their talisman, Zeliati Nkhoma, who took his tally to 7 goals in 8 games, before Substitute, Ndaona Daisi, added a third with 15 minutes to go but the hungry Tigers narrowly missed the comeback as they failed to get the third goal in the match.

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Coach for Tigers, Leo Mpulula, said his team did not play well as they conceded early goals and also missed good chances that could have brought them back into the game.

“We did not play well because we gifted them early goals that made us hard to come back into the game mostly the first and second goals and also we missed good chances which are our usual song so when you miss chances you can’t win but these are not kind of games we should lose but because of lack of seriousness, we have lost.” Said Mpulula.

Meanwhile, Charles Kamanga, the head coach for Kamuzu Barracks said he was happy with the win and congratulated his boys for the win.

“I am very happy because we have won this match and that the boys played according to instructions so they played well I have to thank them.” Said Kamanga.

The visitors looked aggressive from the first whistle as Sam Gunda’s free-kick went straight to Lucky Tizola before the midfielder set Zeliati Nkhoma for an opener in the 10th minute. The Soldiers continued matching and Nkhoma stroked the team’s second in the 29th minute before missing a seater in the 44th minute Precious Chipungu also missed a glorious chance in the added time.

Leo Mpulula made four changes at half time, introducing Iven Mwakapenda, Hamidu Msopa, Precious Chiudza, and Dan Manda for Ben Manyozo, Tizola, Chipungu, and Shukuran Afick then they attacked much and won three corner kicks in the first five minutes of the half. Bright Mtondagowa missed a clear chance in the 52nd minute then Ndaona Daisi replaced Redson Nkhoma in the 63rd minute and Frank Chizuze replaced Alex Kambirinya who suffered an injury in the 73rd minute.

Daisi scored KB’s third in the 75th minute before the Tigers came hard with Dan Manda pulling one back in the 83rd minute before Masambelo Kalua put the game alive with a good goal two minutes later but the hosts could not manage to escape their first home loss of the season as they fail to get an equalizer.

Kamuzu Barracks has now moved to position three on the log table following the win as they have 15 points from 8 games after winning four games, two draws, and a loss while Tigers move from 7th to 9th with 11 points from 8 games as well.

In another match in Dedza, Chifuniro Mpinganjira stroked a brace with Lughalo Kayira scoring the other goal as Dedza Dynamos moved 6th with a 3-0 win over Bangwe All Stars at the Dedza Stadium. On Monday, Moyale Barracks will host FCB Nyasa Big Bullets at the Mzuzu Stadium.