PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
Determined Malawi salvages late equaliser with wobbly Nigeria
Blantyre, Malawi (PANA) - There was late drama on Saturday in the Malawi commercial capital of Blantyre where the home side needed a stoppage time equaliser to salvage a point in a Group F World Cup qualifier between Malawi's Flames and the Super Eagles of Nigeria.
The Flames, with just one European- based player in Atletico Madrid's reserve striker, Robert Ngalande, started brightly, putting pressure on their more illustrious opponents full of stars plying their trade in top European leagues.
South Africa-based Atusaye Nyondo nearly opened the score line when his rasping shot cannoned off Vin Enyema's bar.
But that was as good as it got as the match fizzled into a drab affair with no real goal-mouth action.
Second-half changes from either side failed to change the complexion of the match and a stalemate seemed inevitable.
However, Nigeria sensed an opportunity and started to attack more.
As the pressure increased, the visitors won a corner within just a minute from regulation time. From a Uzoenyi Christiantus Ejike's delivery, Gabriel Shali headed home what appeard to be a decider.
But there was more late drama as substitute John Banda salvaged a point from the hosts when he scored in the last minute of the three-minute extra time.
This result means Nigeria goes on top of Group F with 4 points while Malawi bags 2 points.
Soccer pundit Felix Sapao said Malawi should have won the Blantyre encounter.
"The Flames dominated the entire match," he told PANA. "They should have won the game."
-0- PANA RT/MA 9June2012
Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone provided by Airtel Malawi
The Flames, with just one European- based player in Atletico Madrid's reserve striker, Robert Ngalande, started brightly, putting pressure on their more illustrious opponents full of stars plying their trade in top European leagues.
South Africa-based Atusaye Nyondo nearly opened the score line when his rasping shot cannoned off Vin Enyema's bar.
But that was as good as it got as the match fizzled into a drab affair with no real goal-mouth action.
Second-half changes from either side failed to change the complexion of the match and a stalemate seemed inevitable.
However, Nigeria sensed an opportunity and started to attack more.
As the pressure increased, the visitors won a corner within just a minute from regulation time. From a Uzoenyi Christiantus Ejike's delivery, Gabriel Shali headed home what appeard to be a decider.
But there was more late drama as substitute John Banda salvaged a point from the hosts when he scored in the last minute of the three-minute extra time.
This result means Nigeria goes on top of Group F with 4 points while Malawi bags 2 points.
Soccer pundit Felix Sapao said Malawi should have won the Blantyre encounter.
"The Flames dominated the entire match," he told PANA. "They should have won the game."
-0- PANA RT/MA 9June2012
Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone provided by Airtel Malawi
