There could be no winner. There could be no one holding to the bragging rights as FCB Nyasa Big Bullets and Mighty Mukuru Wanderers played out to a 1 all draw in a highly billed Blantyre derby match of the TNM Super League played at Kamuzu Stadium today.
The Nomads led four minutes past the half hour mark following individual brilliance by skipper Stanley Sanudi. The longest serving player pulled a thunderbolt of a shot past Bullets keeper Rabson Chiyenda from the right corner.
But, chances for an early response for Bullets came only to be wasted by Maxwell Gasten Phodo. The former Silver Strikers attacker needed the slightest of touches after being set up by Patrick Mwaungulu but he instead slipped in chase for the ball.
Five minutes into the second half, Bullets mentor Callisto Pasuwa, made changes. Perhaps in reaction to the evident tiredness is some of the players who were kept in chase by lethal Gaddie Chirwa and Felix Zulu who was eventually named Man of the Match.
The coach pulled off Anthony Mfune and Eric Kawonga for Precious Sambani and Hassan Kajoke.
Kajoke made the immediate impact with exchanges with Mwaungulu and Lanjesi Nkhoma, but the scoring boots appeared no close for the 29-year-old as William Thole, in goals for Wanderers denied him from close range.
With three minutes to the hour mark, Bullets found the leveler. This time, Kajoke rounded off Lawrence Chaziya before he set up an unmarked Phodo for 1 all.
The odds suddenly started to favor the holders with Phodo in disbelief having seen his close-range shot saved by Thole with a minute to go.
The result means Bullets still hold the top position on goal-difference as the two sides tie at 54 points apiece, but they have three games in hand.
On his part, Pasuwa said he noticed traces of complacency and tiredness in his player while Nomads coach Mark Harrison insisted his charges should have done better and rued missed chances.
In other matches played today, Kamuzu Barracks put up a spirited performance to win away at Nankhaka stadium against Blue Eagles. KB banked on goals from inform Olson Kanjira and Sheriff Maulana while promising attacker. Christopher Gototo’s goal as not just enough to see the Eagles claim any result.
Up north, at Rumphi Stadium, Moyale Barracks were 4-1 winners over Chitipa United.
