Nomads lead on goal difference

Champions Mighty Wanderers yesterday scaled to the summit of the FDH Bank1 Premiership following a 4-0 demolition of Chitipa United at Chitipa Stadium. The Nomads, fresh from another 4-1 thumping of Karonga United five days earlier at Mpira Stadium in Chiwembe Township, Blantyre, were in the comfort zone 10 minutes into the match as they led 2-0 after travelling about 880 kilometres from their base. The Blantyre-based giants now sit at the pinnacle of the 16-team top-flight with 13 points as their title defence campaign gathers momentum.

They are tied on points with second and third-placed Silver Strikers and Blue Eagles, respectively, but the Nomads have the bragging rights courtesy of a superior goal difference. Wanderers drew first blood in the sixth minute through Henry Kaliyati who connected home a Stanley Sanudi cross. Before the dust had settled down after the opener, the Nomads doubled their lead via a bizarre own goal, Chitipa’s goalkeeper John Banda was caught off-guard by his defender Blessings Joseph’s back pass which sailed into the net.

The Nomads’ new-signing assassin Lameck Mithi netted the third in the 32nd minute from a Gaddie Chirwa cross to take his tally to four goals. But Mithi was taken off stage at half-time after suffering a knock and was replaced by veteran forward Muhammad Sulumba, who got his name on the score sheet in the 82nd minute after being set up by Sanudi. Wanderers coach Bob Mpinganjira said he was happy that his charges played according to instructions.

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“I am excited with the margin of the victory, it is not easy to come here and win convincingly as we have done. We had planned to unsettle Chitipa by scoring early and it worked to perfection,” he said. His Chitipa counterpart Kondwa Ikwanga said they lost the plot after conceding two early goals.

“The goals came from nothing. Wanderers didn’t sweat for them only that my players were guilty of ball watching,” he said. Following the defeat, Chitipa are 13th with six points from six matches. At Mwanza Stadium, FCB Nyasa Bullets played out their third successive draw against Moyale Barracks.

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