Wa Ganyu
Mighty Mukuru Wanderers substitute Francisco Madinga scored a deflected last-gasp winner to earn a 2-1 win over Mighty Tigers on Sunday. Tigers’ coach Leo Mpulula was furious with the goal.
This was the result that moved Meck Mwase’s side back into second place—8 points behind the leaders Silver Strikers in the TNM Super League.
The attacker took advantage of a miscommunication at the back to round two defenders and the keeper Lucky Tizola before slotting the ball home for the all-important goal in the 89th minute.
Before that it looked like Tigers were going to frustrate the Nomads after substitute Messiah Kachingwe had scored with a powerful header in the 38th minute to cancel out Isaac Kaliati’s early goal.
Kaliati put Wanderers ahead in the 8th minute from a free-kick 20 yards out. He sent a thunderous shot over the Tigers wall into the top left corner.
Wanderers were in charge and in control for the most part of the first half but the frontline were not clinical enough to increase the tally.
Christopher Kumwembe missed the Nomads closest chance in the first half when he headed wide from inside the goal area with the keeper already beaten on the half hour mark. He messed up another chance just before the break by failing to control a good pass inside the box for the ball to roll away.
The home side started the second half strongly and their pace increased with a double change when Mtende Kaonga and Chifundo George replaced Henderson Kapata and Zikani Munthali on the hour mark.
Wanderers responded with a double change, introducing the fresh legs of Madinga and Vincent Nyangulu.
Tigers nearly got rewarded eight minutes later when Peter Cholopi blundered at the Nomads back by failing to stop a loose ball, but goalkeeper Richard Chipuwa rushed to save the situation.
It was Wanderers turn in the 76th minute when the Tigers keeper left his line in an attempt to clear a ball but missed. Gaddie Chirwa took advantage but his weak shot was cleared on the line.
Wanderers finished strongly and no wonder they have a third straight win to Coach Mwase in charge of the side following the departure of Burundian Nsanzurwimo Ramadhan.
Mpulula was frustrated after a defeat to Wanderers and he attributed it to some injuries and suspension of some of his players.
