Another spirited display yielded no reward for Ekhaya FC, who fell to a narrow 0-1 defeat in the TNM Super League of Malawi to Silver Strikers on a rainy Wednesday afternoon at Mpira Stadium.
The Bankers struck early and clung to their advantage for the remaining minutes, despite The Cowboys creating a string of promising chances throughout the tie.
What Happened
Silver Strikers made a fast start and capitalised on a moment of disorganisation at the back.
With just 7 minutes played, Emmanuel Allan found space inside the area and fired past Joshua Waka to give the visitors the lead.
The response from Ekhaya was immediate and positive. The Cowboys grew into the match, pressing higher and forcing Silver onto the back foot.
Alick Lungu came closest to levelling matters when he unleashed a thunderous long-range effort, only for goalkeeper George Chikooka to produce a reflex save.
Moments later, Levie Mnyenyembe tried his luck from a similar distance, forcing the keeper into a double-fisted punch to clear the danger.
The pressure increased as Ekhaya attacked with purpose on both flanks, pinning the visitors deep and forcing a series of hurried clearances.
Despite the momentum, Silver Strikers survived the storm and went into the break still leading 1–0.
The second half opened with the same tempo, end-to-end, intense, and increasingly tactical. Silver looked eager to find a second goal, while Ekhaya kept probing for an equaliser. Both managers made several changes hoping to tilt the contest in their favour.
As the match entered its final stretch, The Cowboys carved out more decent openings, pushing numbers forward and testing the visitors’ defensive resolve.
However, the finishing touch remained elusive, and the match closed with Silver Strikers holding on for the victory.
What It Means
The result keeps Ekhaya FC on 39 points, but drops the team to 7th place with three matches remaining in what has been a commendable debut campaign in the TNM Super League.
Coach’s Reaction
“It was a good game, only that the boys seemed to lose concentration and we conceded early. The team played well, we created a lot of chances but couldn’t convert them.
They packed their midfield in the first half, but we adapted and played well. There are just a few areas to fix, and we will catch up with these teams.”
-Enos Chatama.
What’s Next
No breathing space for The Cowboys. Up next is a huge home fixture against FCB Nyasa Big Bullets at Mpira Stadium, our 28th match of this historic debut season
