FCB Nyasa Bullets yesterday stepped up the tempo in their quest for a fifth successive TNM Super League title with a 4-0 demolition of Mafco FC at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.

The People’s Team are now second with four points from two games, two points behind their fierce rivals Mighty Mukuru Wanderers, who top the 16-team league.

Lungu celebrates his second goal with Mike Mkwate

Alick Lungu and Lanjesi Nkhoma were the toast of the afternoon for the hosts after claiming a brace each.

The result was also a perfect revenge for Bullets whose only loss in the league last season was against the Salima-based Malawi Defence Force (MDF) side.

It was Bullets’ first win this season after playing out a one-all draw against Silver Strikers in their opening match.

Their fans, popularly known as Mapalestina, painted the ceremonial home of local football red and white and cheered their team from start to finish during their first home match.

Mafco dominated possession in the early stages and passed the ball around gently, but could not break Bullets’ defence which stood firm.

But Bullets drew first blood in the 14th minute through Lungu’s 25-metre thunderbolt that gave Mafco’s goalkeeper Blessings Kameza no chance.

They led 1-0 at the interval.

Bullets came into the second half with renewed purpose and took advantage of the visitors’ shaky defence to score three more goals.

They doubled the lead through Nkhoma in the 52nd minute through a penalty awarded after Mafco captain Paul Ndlovu handled the ball in the box.

Three minutes later, Bullets were three up after Lungu, who was named man-of-the-match, scored another beauty from a rebound.

Bullets attacked with flair and fervour and it came as no surprise when Nkhoma struck the fourth in the 65th minute.

It was game over and Bullets switched to a pass-and-move game to entertain their fans.

In a post-match interview, Mafco coach Sterio Gondwe said they were let down by the referee.

He said: “Our standard of play was good, but the referee frustrated us as he was always blowing against us. He even denied us a clear goal when Bullets were leading to 2-0.

“Anyway, we accept defeat, but we’ll bounce back.”

His Bullets counterpart Kallisto Pasuwa was all smiles.

He said: “I am very happy, we played good football in the second half.

“In the first half, they [Mafco] played a hard, pressing game, but it all changed in the second half after changing the formation.”

In other games, Dedza Dynamos Salima Sugar beat another MDF side Kamuzu Barracks 3-2 at Dedza Stadium. Just like Bullets and Silver, Dedza also have four points from two games. Civil Service United and rookies Extreme FC played out a one-all draw while Ekwendeni Hammers and Moyale Barracks also played out a goalless draw.

The post Champs Bullets demolish Mafco first appeared on The Nation Online.