Blue Eagles, Kamuzu Barracks settle for 1-1 draw: Malawi TNM Super League

 Area 30 men, Blue Eagles and reigning champions Kamuzu Barracks settled for a 1-1 draw in a midweek TNM Super League fixture played at Nankhaka ground in Lilongwe.

The host had to come from behind to force a draw six minutes to time through Gregory Nachipo when the Champions had gone in front through Sammy Chapanda.

Kamuzu Barracks seemed  to have not recovered from the 3-2 shock defeat at the hands of Master Security last Saturday as they failed to take control of the game particularly in the first half.

With the draw, Blue Eagles has moved to position five from eight with 18 points from 13 games while Kamuzu Barracks still remains on position 12 with 15 points.

The last minutes of the game were marred with acts of unsporting behaviour by Kamuzu Barracks technical panel.

Referee Esther Zimba had disallowed what looked like  a goal for Kamuzu Barracks but she ruled it out for an infringement. This did not go down well with Coach Billy Phambala and he protested to the fourth official and was gesturing to his players to leave the pitch.

Referee Zimba saw this and showed Phambala marching orders but Kamuzu Barracks Official Francis Shaba went in and threatened to manhandle the referee but was restrained by fellow officials on the touch line.

Shaba wanted to beat the referee on the tunnel to dressing room and is allegedly to have  damaged a door in the dressing room  in hunger to what had happened at the end of the match.

The first half only witnessed a single chance in the 13th minute when Blue Eagles right back Steve Chakonda’s cross was headed by Maxwell Salambula from close range but Kamuzu Barracks goalkeeper Sekani Mhango tamed it .

The two teams were deadlocked at half time.

Ten minutes into the last half, Blue Eagles custodian Chakonda Majanga brought down Harvey Mkacha outside the box but the resultant free kick was wasted.

In the 59th minute,  Chapanda of Kamuzu Barracks put his team in the lead when he connected home World Mkuliwa’s corner kick.

Blue Eagle’s Nachipo leveled the scores in the 84th minute when he nodded in Alufeyasi Nyoni’s cross beating keeper Mhango.

Two minutes to time, Mkacha bicycle kicked the ball into the net but referee ruled out for an infringement as one of the Kamuzu Barrack player had pulled down keeper in the process.