Silver Strikers and MAFCO FC Play Out Goalless Draw at Silver Stadium
Thursday's Malawi Super League match between Silver Strikers and MAFCO FC at Silver Stadium ended in a goalless draw, leaving the Central Bankers still searching for their elusive first win against their rivals this season. Head Coach Peter Mgangira kept faith with the side that won a week ago in Mchinji, looking to capitalize on home advantage.
The first half saw Silver Strikers create numerous chances through Chinsisi Maonga, Stanie Davie, and Uchizi Vunga. Maonga, in particular, was a thorn in MAFCO's defense, weaving his way past defenders and forcing several saves from the visiting goalkeeper. But despite their dominance, the Central Bankers were unable to find the back of the net.
At halftime, Levison Maganizo and Binwell Katinji were introduced for Dan Sandukila and Emmanuel Allan. The changes brought some hope for a goal in the second half as Silver Strikers continued to pile on the pressure. Ten minutes in, Katinji, Zebron Kalima, and Maganizo all had their efforts blocked by the MAFCO FC defense in a frenetic spell of play.
Vunga came closest to breaking the deadlock just before the hour mark. After winning possession in the middle of the park, he embarked on a solo run that saw him beat three opponents before taking a shot at goal that forced a save from Christopher Mikuwa. Davie also had a good opportunity to score at 70 minutes but his effort went over the bar.
Silver Strikers made two substitutions in the second half, bringing on Charles Chipala for Davie and Lasuli Jali for Kalima in added time. But despite their best efforts, the match ended goalless.
"I'm happy that we created a lot of chances today," Mgangira said in the post-match interview. "We had another good match today, a good atmosphere. We had a tough first half but we improved and built a good performance in the second half where we created a lot of chances. It's true we've squandered many chances this afternoon, but that's what happens when you're enjoying home ground advantage. You play well and create chances, but we just had to be clinical to finish off the game."
Despite the draw, Silver Strikers remain in fourth place with 19 points from 10 games. They will now focus on their next away fixture on Sunday as they travel to Rumphi to play Moyale Barracks.
"We're disappointed not to have taken all three points today, but we'll regroup and focus on the next match," Mgangira added. "Moyale Barracks will be a tough opponent, but we're confident that we can get a positive result."
With the race for third place heating up, every point will be crucial for Silver Strikers as they look to secure a place in the top three and qualify for next season's CAF Confederation Cup.
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Summary: In a thrilling match at Silver Stadium, Silver Strikers played to a goalless draw against MAFCO FC. Despite creating numerous chances, the Central Bankers were unable to convert their shots into goals. The team's head coach, Peter Mgangira, was pleased with the team's performance, stating that they had a good atmosphere and improved in the second half. However, he noted that they need to be more clinical in front of goal to finish off their chances. Despite the draw, Silver Strikers remain in fourth place with 19 points from 10 games. They will now focus on their next away match against Moyale Barracks on Sunday.
