Defending Champions of the TNM Super League, Silver Strikers have registered their 7th draw this season following a 0-0 scoreline against Goshen City Dedza Dynamos on Wednesday at Dedza Stadium.
On the standings, Silver Strikers remain third with 40 points from 20 games. So far, they have managed 11 wins and two defeats.
Wednesday’s result has since pushed away further their title defence hopes because Mighty Wanderers, who are leading the pack, has 51 points from 21 games and second-placed FCB Nyasa Big Bullets have 49 points from 21 games.
The Central Bankers’ Coach, Peter Mgangira, said they needed the maximum points considering its criticality.
“Not satisfied, but we are okay having one point away from home,” Mgangira said.
Initially, Silver Strikers started the game with an attacking intent.
Their first attempt was recorded just nine minutes into the game, when their striker, Charles Chipala, tried an on-target attempt from long distance, but Dedza’s goalie, Dennis Brino Phiri, saved it.
Dynamos also had their highlight in the 18th minute when Peter Noah sent a cross to Luke Chima, who was in position, but he headed it wide.
Three minutes later, Silver Strikers almost broke the deadlock. It started when McDonald Lameck made a throw-in into the offensive lines where it reached Dedza’s defender, Otchaya Okot who nearly made an own-goal, but Aggrey Msowoya, another defender, managed to clear their lines. Okot was later subbed off for Blessings Phiri.
Again, in the 35th minute, Silver’s Chipala could have scored but was denied when his attempt struck the cross-bar.
As the time was nearing the recess, Silver Strikers were reduced to 10-men when Maxwell Paipi was red-carded after fouling Dedza’s player.
In the early minutes of the second half, Dedza introduced George Mboma and Gift Magola for Luke Chima and Bright Masebo, and David Habu for Frank Sanudi while Silver introduced Innocent Shema for Zebron Kalima.
After these, much of the second-half was uneventful, as Silver Strikers were seemingly defensive, perhaps after their sending off right before the half-time.
Dedza did try to attack, but they were not clinical at the end of each attempt. For instance, they did try on the 75th minute when Magola sent a cross, but it was cleared.
At the end of the match, Peter Noah for Dedza Dynamos was voted as the player of the match.
Coach Mgangira said they created more chances in the first-half but they were squandered and the red card disturbed their game-plan.
“We managed to do some substitutions, whereby, though playing one man down, we still created chances,” he said.
Dedza Dynamos Coach, Alex Ngwira, said it was a difficult game, but they managed to contain their opponents.
“We started attacking them and that is when they came even harder on us, resulting to that red card. However, despite us not getting a goal, I would say tough luck,” Ngwira said.
For Dedza, on the standings, they still remain 13th but now have 23 points from 23 games.
Elsewhere in the league, at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre the match between league leaders Wanderers and Ekhaya was cancelled mid-way after heavy rainfall.
At CIVO Stadium in Lilongwe, Civil Service United lost 1-0 to Chitipa United, courtesy of Julius Ausman’s 60 minute strike.
By McDonald Makwangwala, Dedza
