Mighty Tigers should now start to really worry as relegation is still beckoning them as they have dropped points against MAFCO after a 1-1 draw at Mpira Stadium on Sunday in Blantyre. The team sits 14th with 19 points from 22 games.
MAFCO, on the other hand, is 11th with 24 points from 23 games.
Their Coach, Jimmy Mzunga, said they are taking each and every game at a time.
“I do not see any pressure,” he said.
But Tigers’ Coach, Trevor Kajawa, said the problem is finding the right striker among their squad who can clinically convert chances.
“In the first half, I fielded a lone striker, and in the second, there were two, and we started to create chances, but I resorted to a single striker again,” he said.
In the game, MAFCO started it a fiery and a lot of dominating ball possession as on the 14th minute, Francis Black made an attempt on target, but Tigers’ goalie, Lucky Tizola, managed to catch it.
Tigers made an early change by bringing in Harrison Kapata for Joseph Balakasi. They nearly broke the deadlock minutes later as Martin Nsewa made an attempt that went straight to MAFCO’s goalie, Christopher Mikuwa.
MAFCO drew the first blood on the 32nd minute when they won a free-kick from the edge of the box and Auspicious Kadzongola scored, leaving the Tigers’ goalie transfixed.
Tigers tried to retaliate on the 40th minute through Shadreck Daniel whose header struck the post after a cross from Martin Nsewa.
After the half-time break, Tigers introduced Precious Kwalenga and Kondanani Samuel for Joseph Balakasi and Ben Manyozo.
But MAFCO were ahead of their game, on the scoreline, possession and creating chances, but they were not clinical.
Nonetheless, Tigers proved that they can be a force to reckon with as Masambiro Kalua equalised on the 65th minute after a corner kick from Paul Ndhlovu, who controlled it using his chest to convert it into a goal.
This made MAFCO change. Zikani Sichinga and Chifundo Molosoni were taken off for Prince Kachere and Rodwell Robert.
Thereafter, Tigers started to dominate the game, but they were wasteful. In the 70th minute, Kondani Samuel could have put his team in front, but his attempt went wide.
The same happened in the 87th minute as passes from Matthews Sibale and Wisdom Jere created an opening for their attacker Precious Kwalenga, who was given a cross, only for him to fail connecting it.
At the end of the match, Tigers’ Masambilo Kaluwa was awraded as the man of the match.
Tigers Coach, Kajawa, said getting a point was not satisfactory to his side.
“Very frustrating as we were playing at home and were supposed to get three points. But, that is part of the game at least a point is better than nothing. I think in the first half we were not ourselves, and came in the second, where we could have won it,” he said.
MAFCO’s Coach, Mzunga, said it was a tough game.
“We had a lead in the first half but in the course of the game, our friends came in and equalised,” Mzunga said.
Elsewhere, Moyale Barracks has floored Songwe Border United 1-0.
Mighty Wanderers still leads the pack as they remain unbeaten from 21 games with 51 points, and following closely are FCB Nyasa Big Bullets who have 49 points from the same number of games. Silver Strikers are third from 19 games with 39 points.
The bottom three consists of Songwe who have 5 points from 23 games, then comes Mzuzu City Hammers who tie 19 points with Tigers, but are separated by goal difference.
League action returns next week, as on Saturday, FCB Nyasa Big Bullets will take on Civil Service United, Dedza Dynamos will play against MAFCO, while Kamuzu Barracks will lock horns against Karonga United.
