Blantyre, March 1: Big Bullets booked a place in the 2015 Caf Champions League second round after playing to a 2-2 draw against Fomboni FC of the Comos Island at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre on Saturday.
Goals from Victor Limbani and Tizgowere Kumwenda saw the Peoples Team leading Fomboni in the first half, but the visitors equalized in the second half due to Bullet’s sloppy defense. Bullets advanced 3-2 on aggregate thanks to alone goal win in the first leg.
Bullets settled the quicker of the two teams and proceeded to dominate possession in the middle of the park, forcing the visitors onto the back foot.
Their first real effort arrived in the 9th minute when a Dalitso Sailesi shot from a tight angle kissed the bar.
In the 26th minute, Kumwenda powered a header on target from a corner kick, but the Fomboni keeper pulled off a brilliant save to keep it out.
Moment of happiness for the Biafra Stands came in the 36th minute when Victor Limbani’s powerful header kissed the back of Fomboni’s net after a well curved corner kick from Captain Fischer Kondowe.
Seven minutes on, the People’s Team were at it again, when Kumwenda added salt on Fombini’s wound with a cleverly left footed shot to make it 2-0.
On recess, it was Bullets leading the visitors 2-0.
The start of the second half saw Fomboni coach making several changes, immediately livened up the visitors attack.
Most of Bullets players run out of fuel in their tanks, as they looked tired giving the visitors enough room to maneuver.
Fomboni almost scored in the 57th minute from a corner kick midway through the second half, as Winster Phiri’s header was put over the crossbar by goalie Vincent Gona, while his colleague missed out on the rebound.
A sigh of relief to Fomboni came 8 minutes into kick-off, when Marius Alphonse pulled one back forcing ‘Mighty Be Forward Wanderers’ ganyu fans to chant , Fomboni! Fombon!.
Just when Bullets thought they had weathered the storm, they gave away a soft penalty that proved their downfall in the tie. Yamikani Fodya was guilty of an agricultural tackle in the forbidden area on Asa Abdallah.
The visitors coolly converted the spot kick through Dafida M’madi to level the match 2-2 and put Bullets 3-2 up on aggregate.
The Biafra stands went into a Cathedral silence after the equalizer, and ganyu supporters went wild, chanting, “Bulley Bulley Fomboni sinzako”.
After the last whistle, Big Bullets coach Nsazurwino Ramadhani blamed his players for the draw saying they got carried away thinking the job was done in the first half.
“We thought after leading 2-0 the battle was over,” he said.
Fomboni FC striker Winster Phiri congratulated Bullets for cruising into another round but stressed they were lucky to escape defeat in their hands.
“We nearly beat them and they should learn that the game is over only after the last whistle,” said the former Mighty Be forward Wanderers player.
Bullets: Vincet Gona, Sankhani Mkandawire, Jaffalie Chande (Mussa Manyenje), Pilirani Zonda, Yamikani Fodya, Bashir Maunde, Victor Limbani, Dalitso Sailesi, Fisher Kondowe, Henry Kabichi (James Chilapondwa).
