Nomads continue winning streak, beat Tigers: Malawi TNM Super League

Mighty Be Forward Wanderers on Sunday maintained its wining streak with victory against Azam Tigers i the TNM Super League at the Kamuzu Stadium.

Azam Tigers produced a spiky, tenacious display of deep-lying defence after Peter Kansonga scored for them in the first half. Ultimately they were reeled in by a thrilling final burst as the Nomads  turned a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 win with goals from inform striker Peter Wadabwa  and, most cinematically of all, versatile midfielder Isaac Kaliat’s flying header in the second half.

Tigers , who struggled against well-drilled, physically powerful opponents,  kept pushing  but they were well tamed in all the angles.

On a bright, chilly afternoon  the Nomads kicked off in an unusually febrile atmosphere at the Kamuzu Stadium.

The return of  Peter Wadabwa, who missed Max Bullets game due to malaria  offered the promise of a little extra protection, and there was cheer also in the Nomads stands as they chanted, Wadabwa! Wadabwa!

Tigers  simply came out like Tigers , with the usual tactics of relying much on midfielder Yamikani Chester, who was well tamed by Francis Mlimbika.

The Nomads  started brightly, Rafiq Namwera  feeding Peter Wadabwa , who crossed to the far post when he might have tested Tigers goalkeeper  early resolve.

From the corner the improbable figure of Francis Mlimbika rose like an Action Man hurled from an upstairs window and headed just wide.

Otherwise Tigers  settled into their familiar black-shirted double-bolt, with Peter Mpulula snapping into tackles and Peter Cholopi, understated general of this team, putting his foot in.

Tigers , fairytale kings, are no strangers to the dark arts of rotational fouling when necessary and here shirts were grappled and runs blocked.

However, the Nomads  simply looked the better team for much of the first half, with Rafiq Namwera  running the game in midfield, using his acceleration to snap and bite into loose balls and curling in one beautiful dipping shot that Tigers keeper William Thole  tipped over.

What a player he has turned out to be. At times this season  Namwera must have been tempted to scratch his head and look a little baffled. TNM Super League? Really? Is that all you have got?

Tigers  goal before half-time came from where Tigers  goals tend to come: breaking down centre , Willy Saenda snapping into a collision with Boston Kabango. The ball broke to Peter Kansonga. His jink into the box ended in a tumble over Foster Namwera, who failed to communicate well with his keeper Richard Chipuwa, offering the chance to Kansonga,who spanked the ball low inside the net.

After conceding the goal, the Nomads  emerged with greater purpose, Isaac Kaliat shooting just wide of the right-hand post and Amos Bello  putting himself about a little more in front of the Kau-Kau  defence.

The onslaught came vaguely at first. Mlimbika  began to figure more on the left. Mike Kaziputa found space on the other wing, and it was from that side that the equaliser came with 20 minutes to go. Kaziputa  whipped a cross on to Wadabwa’s head. His lovely cushioned nod found the former Silver Strikers hit-man in space and the finish was assured.

On recess time it was 1-1.

After half-time,  Wanderers pressed hard. Amos Bello  somehow failed to head home from eight yards, picked out by Kaliat’s  flighted pass.

Moments later, Rafiq Mussa’s  turned and shot inside the box only for Thole  to produce a wonderful save.

Enter savior Kaliati. With a few minutes into second half kick-off ,the workhorse midfielder  leapt highest to flick a header past Thole after his first shot kissed the bar.

Kaliat, popularly known as ‘Chair’ celebrated wildly with his teammate on the far right corner flag.

For Tigers the sense of injustice at the sending-off  of their coach Gerald Phiri and team manager Robin Alufandika add a sting to a defeat that looked unlikely at the halfway point.

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