Ten-Man Eagles Collapse as Kalambo Masterclass Inspires Moyale Comeback

On a rain-soaked afternoon at Nankhaka Stadium, Moyale Barracks proved that character trumps conditions, staging a remarkable comeback to snatch a 2-1 victory from 10-man Blue Eagles FC in what became a tale of two halves.

The Lions of Kaning’ina left it late, but their persistence—and the brilliance of man-of-the-match Clever Kalambo—ultimately broke Eagles’ resistance to secure three precious points on the road.

Heavy rains had turned the Nankhaka pitch into a quagmire before kick-off, transforming what should have been a flowing contest into a physical war of attrition. The ball stuck in the mud, players slipped and slid, and any semblance of intricate passing football became impossible.

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Both coaches were forced to abandon their tactical playbooks and instruct their players to go long and direct—a strategy that suited neither side’s natural game.

For 45 minutes, Moyale battered away at the Eagles door. Kalambo, operating with freedom down the flanks, terrorized the home defense with his trickery and delivery. Time and again, the visitors won corners and free kicks in dangerous positions. Time and again, Eagles goalkeeper Masamba stood firm, while the woodwork and poor finishing kept the scoreline blank.

The closest Moyale came was in the 24th minute when Kalambo’s fierce drive cannoned off teammate Nadrick Nyirenda in a moment of unfortunate comedy. Eagles survived, but the warning signs were there.

Football has a cruel sense of irony. Just three minutes into the second half, against all the momentum and logic of the first 45 minutes, Eagles found themselves ahead.

Innocent Botoman’s handball gifted the hosts a penalty, and Ganizani James made no mistake from the spot, sending Olyce Nkhwazi the wrong way to spark wild celebrations among the home faithful.

It should have been the platform for Eagles to build on. Instead, it became the catalyst for their unraveling.

James’ moment of glory lasted just 17 minutes. His reckless challenge on Nyirenda in the 65th minute earned him a straight red card, and suddenly Eagles were fighting with 10 men and their momentum shattered.

Head coach Deklerk Msakakuona watched helplessly as his game plan disintegrated. Already struggling on the treacherous surface, his team now faced the impossible task of holding off a Moyale side that smelled blood.

The equalizer was inevitable. Charles Nkhoma’s free kick thundered against the post, and Walusungu Mdoka was quickest to react, bundling home the rebound in the 73rd minute to level the scores.

Pritchard Mwansa had seen enough. The Moyale coach made a bold substitution, withdrawing goalscorer Mdoka and throwing on Chifundo Makawa to maintain the attacking impetus. It was a gamble that paid dividends.

With Eagles tiring and stretched thin, spaces began to open up. Kalambo, who had been Moyale’s most dangerous weapon all afternoon, finally found the decisive pass. His perfectly weighted ball released Lameck Mithi, who had been quiet for much of the match, and the striker made no mistake, firing past Masamba to complete the comeback.

The stadium fell silent. Eagles, who had led and controlled the game for much of the second half, were suddenly staring at defeat.

In the post-match interviews, the contrast couldn’t have been starker.

Mwansa was beaming. “I’m very happy that we have won the match. Though the ground was slippery, the boys gave it their all. After noting the condition of the pitch, we told our boys to play more in attack than defense,” he said, his tactical decision vindicated by the result.

Msakakuona, meanwhile, cut a dejected figure. His team had done so much right—taken the lead, weathered the early storm—only to see it slip away after James’ dismissal.

“Playing on a waterlogged pitch was tough for the boys. We got a goal and failed to defend it. Our counterparts came to equalize and scored the winner when we were one man down,” he said, already looking ahead to salvage something from their remaining five fixtures.

For Moyale, this victory represents more than just three points. Climbing to 11th position with 30 points from 23 games, they’ve given themselves genuine hope of escaping the lower reaches of the table. The character shown in Lilongwe—coming from behind in hostile territory on a terrible pitch—suggests a team that won’t go down without a fight.

Eagles, still comfortable in 7th place with 35 points from 25 games, will rue what might have been. They controlled large periods of the match and had the lead, but indiscipline cost them dearly.

Their next assignment—an away trip to face Songwe Border in Karonga—offers a chance for redemption. Border are reeling from a 3-0 thrashing by Dedza Dynamos and will be there for the taking if Eagles can regroup quickly.

But on this rain-soaked Sunday in Lilongwe, the day belonged to Kalambo and his Lions. In conditions where talent often takes a backseat to determination, Moyale proved they possess both in abundance.