MDF Lionesses have beaten 3rd-placed Kukoma Ntopwa Women 2-0 this Saturday afternoon at Champion Stadium to amass 8 points and move from 6th position of the National Bank of Malawi (NBM) Women’s Premiership.
They have displaced FCB Nyasa Bullets, who have 7 points ahead of their assignment on Sunday against runners-up Ascent Soccer at Ascent Ground from 14h30.
Meanwhile, playing from 11h00 at Mzuzu Stadium, Moyale Sisters have beaten MK Academy 4-1 to register their first win in five games of this inaugural NBM Women’s Premiership while striker Maureen Phiri recorded her first hat-trick.
At Champion Stadium, both teams started well, seeking an early goal with Scorchers’ international Asimenye Simwaka being MDF Lionesses’ heartbeat — alongside teammate, Eltech Phiri — keeping Ntopwa Queens goalkeeper and fellow international, Mercy Sikelo a tough time.
After 20 minutes, Ntopwa Queens displayed a notable level of football proficiency as Lydia Mchochoma, Alice Brazi and Sarah Mlimbika executed passes with precision, but Takondwa Gambuleni’s final touch lacked finesse.
Catherine Kachala delivered a dangerous pass into the box in the 38th only for Alufandika to clear the danger and she was back in the 44th when she delivered a impressive display by outmaneuvering three Ntopwa players, but failing to capitalise with a stronger shot.
Just as the match seemed to go for recess at 0-0, Kachala found the net in the 45 +1 minute pouncing on a rebound and a minute later international Fazilla Chiyembekeza wasted a good chance after been well fed by Asimenye Simwaka the left flank.
The visitors put up a grand fight to control the damage as well as seeking an equaliser. In the 81st minute the referee applied the new FIFA football rule by penalising MDF Lionesses’ Yamikani Kaonga goalkeeper for making an 8-second delay to release the ball into play.
A corner was awarded to Ntopwa which was not well utilised and a minute later, MDF Lioness increased the lead through Eltech Phiri, who capitalised on the a Ntopwa defender’s inability to clear Asimenye Simwaka’s cross.
In the 85th minute, the referee once more gave a lesson on football rules by flashing the yellow card to Ntopwa’s Ester Chaulula for delaying the start of the game.
For her overall good performance, MDF Lionesses’ Joyce Oposi earned the Player of the Match award.
At Mzuzu Stadium earlier on, Moyale Sisters’ 4-1 triumph of MK Academy pushed them to 7th place of the 10-team log table with four points, temporarily toppling Civil Service Women, who have an assignment on Sunday against bottom of the table Topik Academy at Mzuzu Stadium from 11h00.
The game started on a high note for the youthful MK Academy, who were piling more pressure on the Moyale Sisters, who weren’t yet given the chance to to register a shot on target.
But Moyale picked themselves up and in the 26th they found the net through Maureen Phiri when she capitalised on a communication breakdown between the defenders and the goalkeeper.
Phiri continued running, rounded the defenders to smartly slot the ball home and four minutes later she became her team’s toast of the day when she got a long ball from Myless Kishombe — again to rob it over the advancing goalkeeper to score her brace.
Two minutes in first half added time, MK Academy pulled one back through Angelina Mwalilino assisted by a through ball from Grace Nyirongo to go for recess trailing by just one goal.
Five minutes into the second half, Maureen Phiri provided the assist for Moyale Sisters third goal when she sent a nice pass to Shupie Gondwe slightly a few meters away from the 20-yard box and without much ado she unleashed a shot to send the ball into the net.
In the 65th, it was the turn of Shupie Gondwe to provid the assist for when she snatched the ball from the legs of a slow defender and passed to Maureen to claim her hat-trick — whose overall performance earned her the Player of the Match award.
Also playing on Sunday are leaders Silver Strikers Ladies, who will be hosted by 4th placed Mighty Wanderers Queens at Mpira Stadium on Sunday from 14h30.
