Mighty Mukuru Wanderers made a strong start in the Airtel Top 8 first-leg match, defeating Bangwe All Stars 1-0 at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.
Isaac Kaliati secured the win with a penalty goal in the 45th minute, scored during the added 8 minutes of injury time. His contribution earned him the Man of the Match accolade.
Despite dominating the game, Wanderers struggled to capitalise on several scoring opportunities. Thierry Sama, in particular, missed five key chances in the first half.
Bangwe All Stars, adopting a highly defensive strategy, rarely posed any threat to the Wanderers’ goal.
Wanderers’ head coach, Meke Mwase, acknowledged the missed opportunities, attributing them to a loss of momentum.
Bangwe’s coach, Trevor Kajawa, said their strategy was to unsettle Wanderers in the first half but were left dissatisfied with the final result.
The two teams will meet again for the second leg on 28th September at Mpira Stadium.
Elsewhere, Chitipa United delivered a stunning 2-0 victory over Kamuzu Barracks at Karonga Stadium.
Trouble Kajani was the hero of the day, scoring in the 53rd and 70th minutes, earning both the Man of the Match award and the Airtel Top 8 current top scorer title.
Kajani started causing trouble and broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute with an assist from Godfrey Kuyokwa and later doubled Chitipa’s lead in the 70th minute, assisted by Rajab Nyirenda.
Kamuzu Barracks coach, Charles Kamanga conceded that Chitipa deserved the win, crediting their home-ground advantage. Chitipa’s coach, Christopher Nyambose, acknowledged the difficulty of the match, accusing Kamuzu Barracks of preparing ‘angrily’ for the encounter.
The teams will meet again in the return leg on 19th October.
The Airtel Top 8 Cup action continues on Wednesday when Silver Strikers face Premier Bet Dedza Dynamos at Silver Stadium in Lilongwe.
