Ekhaya Reserves missed the chance to reclaim top spot in the FINCA Southern Region Football Association (SRFA) Division One League after suffering a 2-0 defeat to Mighty Wanderers Reserves at Mpira Stadium on Saturday in their opening fixture of the second round.
The defeat leaves the young Cowboys second on 34 points, level with leaders FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Reserves, who have a game in hand against Ntopwa FC scheduled for 14:30 today.
For Ekhaya, the setback was largely defined by two costly lapses at the start of each half, as Wanderers capitalized on defensive vulnerabilities to establish and extend their advantage despite periods of pressure from the hosts.
The Cowboys started brightly, looking to dictate the tempo and take control of the contest. However, their promising opening was disrupted in the seventh minute when Amin Yusuf put Wanderers ahead.
The early goal forced Ekhaya to chase the game, prompting them to push higher up the pitch in search of an equalizer. Although they applied pressure around the visitors’ penalty area, the young Cowboys struggled to translate their possession into clear-cut scoring opportunities.
Yusufu Namtunga came closest to restoring parity after capitalising on a goalkeeping error to create an opportunity inside the penalty area. His effort, however, was blocked by a recovering defender before it could seriously threaten the Wanderers goal.
Ekhaya continued to search for a breakthrough, but the visitors remained organized at the back to preserve their 1-0 lead heading into the interval.
The hosts returned for the second half with renewed intent, seeking an early equalizer and committing more players forward. However, just as they looked to build momentum, Wanderers struck again.
Nine minutes after the restart, Steve Pelemeza doubled the visitors’ lead with a well-struck free-kick from outside the penalty area, leaving Ekhaya with a mountain to climb.
In response, Mwafulirwa introduced Eckson Paul for Precious Manjawira in an attempt to inject fresh impetus into the attack and give the hosts a route back into the contest.
The Cowboys continued to press forward, but Wanderers defended resolutely and managed their advantage effectively. Despite Ekhaya’s efforts to reduce the deficit, the hosts could not find a way past the visitors’ defence, with Wanderers holding on to secure all three points.
The result marks Ekhaya Reserves’ fourth defeat of the campaign and denies them an opportunity to move back to the top of the standings as the second round gets underway.
With the promotion race finely poised, the young Cowboys remain level on points with the leaders but will be keen to respond quickly and avoid allowing the setback to derail their campaign.
“We played very well. But unfortunately, I think we did not get the result that we wanted. But at least this game has shown us the reflection of where we are right now. And the reflection of how our players are. Are they ready or not ready in the second round.” Mwafulirwa said post the match.
For Mwafulirwa’s side, the focus now shifts to addressing the slow starts that proved costly against Wanderers and improving their efficiency in the final third. Turning their attacking pressure into goals will be crucial as they look to return to winning ways and maintain their challenge for promotion.
