Mighty Wanderers missed a chance to go top of the TNM Super League after a 1-1 draw against Karonga United at Karonga Stadium on Sunday, in a dramatic encounter that saw them finish the match with 10 men.
Gaddie Chirwa opened the scoring for the Nomads in the 26th minute, heading in a well-placed corner from Wisdom Mpinganjira. But the match turned just before halftime when defender Peter Cholopi was sent off for a reckless challenge. Moments later, Karonga equalized from the penalty spot through Alfred Chizinga.
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Despite their numerical disadvantage, Wanderers continued to press in the second half but were denied a late winner by Karonga goalkeeper Maclean Mwale. At the other end, Dalitso Khungwa kept the visitors in the game with a brilliant save in the dying minutes.
Wanderers head coach Bob Mpinganjira praised his players for their fighting spirit:
“It’s not easy playing away with 10 men, but the boys gave their all. We controlled most of the game and I’m proud of the character they showed,” he said.
Karonga United’s Oscar Kaunda was equally pleased with his side’s performance after a challenging fixture run:
“We’ve played Bullets, Silver, and now Wanderers within a week — and with all that travelling, the boys showed real commitment. I’m happy with the point,” Kaunda said.
The draw in Karonga means FCB Nyasa Big Bullets remain top of the table with 24 points from 9 games, while Wanderers trail closely in second with 23 points.
Elsewhere on Sunday, Mzuzu City Hammers and Chitipa United battled to a goalless draw at Mzuzu Stadium in a tightly contested Northern Region derby.
