At the blow of the final whistle, Bullets Head coach Peter Mponda was seen standing with his face down in disbelief as his team’s unbeaten run has come to end.
And what a painful way to have that record broken, yes from your noisy neighbour.
Directly opposite of Mponda, Jubilant Wanderers fans were ecstatic. Chanting songs of praise. A derby win which they have rarely been treated to in the past 5 seasons.
It was a game won on tactics.
Wanderers were just too good for Bullets almost in all departments.
Wanderers looked organised from the first whistle.
Wingers Gaddie Chirwa and Wisdom Mpinganjira were a thorn in the Bullets flesh making penetrating runs that the Bullets defence led by dethroned captain Clyde Senaji could not contain.
Wanderers were just simply on fire.
Their high pressing game finally paid off when they won a corner kick which was whipped in by Mpinganjira and Innocent Nyasulu in Bullets goal failed to deal with it and the ball landed on the unmarked Blessings Mwalilino to tap in.
That goal seem to have energized the Lali Lubani boys as they kept pressing in search of a second and Bullets gaffer Peter Mponda sensing danger was forced into an early substitution withdrawing Clyde Senaji for Frank Willard.
Bullets’ closest chance of the first half fell to Maxwell Phodo after a beautiful run on the flanks by Chikumbutso Salima but the striker failed to convert when scoring looked the easiest option for one to take.
Wanderers’ goalie Chancy Mtete was called to task on 32 minutes when he confidently dealt with a well taken Wongani Lungu corner kick.
The Nomads on the other end kept pressing with midfielder Francsisco Madinga being the chief Architect of all of Wanderer’s attacking moves combining well with Mpinganjira and Chirwa on the flanks.
The first half finished 1-0.
At the start of the second half, Coach Peter Mponda made a double substitution taking out Captain Lyod Aaron and Mike Mkwate who both had a bad day in office and in their places came Chawanangwa Gumbo and Henry Chiwaya.
Bullets looked to have now mastered the Wanderers game plan and Chikumbutso Salima orchestrated most of Bullets’ attacks but the Wanderers defence was on guard to clear any danger.
Wanderers Coach Bob Mpinganjira made a double substitution of his own after 57 minutes withdrawing striker Promise Kamwendo and Gaddie Chirwa for Clement Nyondo and Masiya Manda.
Wanderers could have doubled the lead after 71 minutes but Clement Nyondo’s strike was ruled out for offside.
The home side continued to hold on and Emmanuel Nyirenda and Nanison Mbewe were introduced for Francisco Madinga and Felix Zulu to add the figures in defence.
Wanderers continued to press with substitutes looking menacing each time he was in possession of the ball.
However 1-0 is how it would finish much to the delight of the blue and white nomads’ family.
Before the match both teams took time to honour derby Legend Yasin Titch Osman who played for both Wanderers and Bullets during his playing days.
Osman died earlier this year whilst serving as Wanderers’ Technical Director.
Wanderers’ win means they have now moved 2 points closer to leaders Bullets with a game in hand.
As for Bullets this is only their second time to concede a goal in the league in 7 games.
Elsewhere in the league, debutant Alick Lungu saw his penalty saved by Blue Eagles goalie Joshua Waka as Ekhaya and Blue Eagles shared the spoils in a 0-0 draw at Nankhaka.
In Dedza, visiting Kamuzu Barracks gave away the lead twice to draw 2-2 with Dedza Dynamos.
Zeliat Nkhoma and Francis Mchema were on target for the soldiers whilst Chifuniro Mpinganjira grabbed a brace for the hosts.
At Chitowe, Creck Sporting’s resurgence continue as they grabbed all the maximum points with a 1-3 victory over MAFCO.
Frank Phiri and Hassan Hussein were on target for Creck who earlier on Saturday unveiled former Blue Eagles head coach Eliah Kananji as its new head coach replacing the fired Joseph Kamwendo.
Songwe Boarder United’s search for their first win in the tnm Super League continues losing 1-0 to district rivals Karonga United in the Karonga derby.
