Malawi Defence Force-sponsored outfits, Moyale Barracks and Kamuzu Barracks, have lost their Week 11 assignments on Saturday.
MAFCO lost 2-1 against Malawi Police-sponsored side, Blue Eagles, at Nankhaka Stadium, courtesy of Levison Mnyenyembe and Bennet Konyo.
The result means Blue Eagles have now moved to 3rd with 16 points from 10 games while Moyale have dropped to 6th, collecting 13 points from 8 games.
The opening stages of the game were cagey, with both teams struggling to find rhythm. But Blue Eagles gradually grew into the match as a breakthrough came in the 43rd minute when substitute Micium Mhone, who had replaced the injured Laurent Banda, set up Levison Mnyenyembe to fire home and give Blue Eagles a deserved lead heading into halftime.
MAFCO responded almost immediately after the restart. Just two minutes into the second half, Chifundo Moloson capitalised on a defensive scramble from a Sunganani Geoffrey throw-in to level the match at 1-1.
Blue Eagles regained control, dominating possession and creating chances. The decisive moment came in the 78th minute, when Lanken Mwale, who had just come on to replace James Stambuli six minutes earlier, delivered a pinpoint cross which Bennet Konyo connected to slot past the MAFCO goalkeeper and make it 2-1.
After 90 minutes had elapsed, Mnyenyembe was awarded the Man-of-the-Match.
Interim Head Coach and Technical Director for Blue Eagles, Deklerk Msakakuona, described the victory as a motivation for his side to rise in the rankings.
On the other hand, the losing coach, Stereo Gondwe, lamented that they fluffed many chances in the first half.
Elsewhere at Karonga Stadium, Kamuzu Barracks were also defeated at the hands of Chitipa United, 1-0, courtesy of Mally Kasongo’s 49th-minute strike, after an evenly contested first half, which was filled with frustration for the hosts, who dominated possession and chances.
Chitipa United made tactical changes at the break, bringing in Ken Mlenga and Andrew Joseph, which paid off almost instantly because in the 49th minute, Joseph Mbaga teed up Kasongo, who fired home.
Kamuzu Barracks responded with a flurry of substitutions to find an equaliser. Despite late pressure from the visitors and a worrying head injury to Chitipa goalkeeper Jacob Anyandwire, the home side held firm. Their defence, led by Eric Atsiga and Lumbani Nyondo, repelled every attack.
After the game, Atsigah, for Chitipa United, was voted as the player of the match.
Chitipa United’s gaffer, Kondwa Ikwanga, said he devised some tactical strategies in the second half, which resulted in a goal after observing their opponents’ weaknesses in the first half.
Kamuzu Barracks’ Coach, Nicholas Mhango, said they were poorly prepared for the fixture hence the defeat.
But on the standings, Kamuzu Barracks are better off because they rank 10th with 11 points from 10 games. For Chitipa, they are 12th and have 9 points from 10 games.
On Sunday, Mzuzu City Hammers welcomes league rookies, Ekhaya at Rumphi Stadium. On the same day, Mighty Wanderers will lock horns with PremierBet Dedza Dynamos at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.
