Blue Eagles have gone into the FDH Bank Premiership recess as league leaders for the first time since 2016 after defeating Mighty Wanderers 2-1 at Nakhaka Stadium in Lilongwe.
The Malawi Police Service-sponsored outfit has 31 points, while defending champions Wanderers are third with 30 points.
Despite eventually losing, Mighty Wanderers started brightly, attacking in waves and forcing corners.
For the opening 10 minutes, however, Blue Eagles rarely threatened the Wanderers goal.
Their first notable attempt came from a corner that was curled towards goal, but Wanderers goalkeeper Chancy Courtois Mtete saved.
The momentum then started to shift as Blue Eagles began maintaining possession and attacking more consistently.
In the 17th minute, they forced a corner, although the delivery was squandered. Four minutes later, Lanken Mwale tried from long range, with his effort deflected for another corner.
Micium Mhone delivered the resulting corner, curling the ball towards the Wanderers goal.
Mtete parried it away, but Fahard Mcheka was on hand to slot home the rebound.
The goal jolted Wanderers into action and they attacked almost immediately after the restart.
In the 28th minute, they forced a corner delivered by Dalitso Nahipa, but Eagles goalkeeper Precious Masamba saved.
Blue Eagles, however, continued to threaten and doubled their lead in the 31st minute through Tonic Viyuyi, who headed in a cross from Mhone.
Mtete remained busy in the Wanderers goal as Blue Eagles continued to attack.
Wanderers tried to pull one back, particularly in the 36th minute when Sama Tanjong’s long-range effort was pushed over the bar for a corner.
Wanderers then made three substitutions in the 39th minute, with Rajab Nyirenda, Emmanuel Nyirenda and Mphatso Kamanga replacing Dan Ludontho, Isaac Kaliati and Timothy Silwimba.
Blue Eagles were also forced into a change shortly before half-time when Mathias Nyirenda was replaced by Enock Jobo because of injury.
Wanderers again started brightly in the second half, with their first attempt coming in the 49th minute when Rajab Nyirenda’s free-kick went over the crossbar.
They then made another two substitutions, bringing on Peter Cholopi and Promise Kamwendo for Masiya Manda and Clement Nyondo.
The away side increased the pressure, but finishing remained a problem.
In the 63rd minute, Mphatso Kamanga missed a chance when he sent his effort wide.
Nyirenda also tried from long range, but his effort went wide of the far post.
Wanderers’ pressure finally paid off in the 76th minute.
Peter Ng’ambi sent a long throw towards the Blue Eagles goal, which goalkeeper Masamba punched away. Tanjong reacted quickest to the loose ball and scored with Masamba out of position.
Blue Eagles made further changes as Jobo, who had come on at half-time, was replaced by Chrispin Singano in the 81st minute, while Mhone was replaced by Gilbert Chirwa.
In the 90th minute, Innocent Dzambira came on for Lanken Mwale as Blue Eagles sought to bolster their defence.
After the final whistle, Blue Eagles’ Fahard Mcheka was named man of the match.
Blue Eagles coach Deklerk Msakakuona said the team had planned to score early goals.
“We knew that they will come hard and are coming for a win, but we also needed three points at the end of the day, which we did,” Msakakuona said.
MacDonald Mtetemera, interim head coach of Wanderers, described the result as very bad and said he could not ‘accept’ it, but commended his players for displaying a gallant fight.
“In the second half we really played. I think everybody gave himself for the team and that is a very commendable thing. I think from now, we have to be preparing the entire team to have that fighting spirit,” Mtetemera said.
League action will resume in October 2026.
By Romeo Umali
