Nyasa Big Bullets yesterday found themselves with several unanswered questions after their 0-2 loss to Tanzania’s Energies CAF Champions League first round first leg at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe.Simba Sports Club in Total

Playing in front of a crowd of their supporters draped in red and white, the TNM Super League champions were looking forward to utilising home advantage.

But things turned against the People’s Team right from the first whistle as Simba settled first and enjoyed massive possession for the first 20 minutes, forcing the hosts to defend.

Bullets conceded two corners within the first 15 minutes as the visitors sought an early goal.

The visitors midfield, led by captain Clatous Chama, Sadio Kanoute, Mzamiru Yassin and John Bocco was compact and linked up well with forwards Moses Phiri and Ousmane Sakho.

Forced in their half, Bullets were defending in numbers and thus giving room for mistakes and for the visitors to roam freely and cause havoc.

It was not surprising that such a mistake brought about a foul in a vantage position in the 28th minute and Zambian Moses Phiri scored an outrageous acrobatic goal with a bicycle kick connecting from the resultant set piece.

But in the second-half, Bullets improved after Pasuwa introduced Mcfarlen Mgwira and Hassan Kajoke for struggling Patrick Mwaungulu and Lanjesi Nkhoma.

Using the wings, they immediately launched several attacks in the opponents half.

But the experienced defence of Simba’s Israel Patrick, Muhammed Hussein, Enock Inonga and Erasto Nyoni kept Babatunde and Kajoke at bay.

In the 54th minute the hosts nearly got level.

Idana floated a good ball in the box which evaded the attention of Manula, but Patrick was on hand to clear the ball before Babatunde could have a say.

Bullets introduced Henry Kabichi to replace Frank Willard in the 68th minute as coach Callisto Pasuwa sought to solidify the midfield.

In 70th minute, Mgwira made a wonderful delivery in the box from a corner which was met by an advancing Precious Sambani, but his effort narrowly missed the target.

Despite the resurgence by the hosts, it was the vistors who again drew blood against the run of play. Bocco made it 2-0 in the 80th minute with a simple finish after Bullets defence was caught ball watching and failed to clear a harmless ball.

Bullets now need to upset the tables in the return leg next Sunday in Tanzania.

Pasuwa, in post match interviews, blamed his players for giving the visitors too much respect in the first-half.

He said: “But at half-time I told the boys to charge up and it really worked.

“Unfortunately, we have conceded two goals.”

Simba interim coach Juma Mgunda said despite winning, the battle is not yet over and that they will be alert in the return leg.

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