Ekhaya Reserves were held to a goalless draw by FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Reserves in a fiercely contested encounter played on Saturday afternoon at Kamuzu Stadium.
Despite both sides creating numerous chances, neither managed to find the breakthrough as the match ended in a stalemate.
What Happened
The clash began at a high tempo, with both teams showing intent from the start. The opening quarter of an hour was evenly balanced, though it was Bullets Reserves who posed the early threat, creating two promising chances. Our youngsters, meanwhile, were limited to a single attempt on goal during that spell.
Down the left flank, Hadji Steven was lively and caused persistent problems for James Musongole, delivering several dangerous crosses into the box. One of his deliveries was met by Movic Banda, who couldn’t make a clean connection from close range.
Ekhaya Reserves responded with purpose, attacking down the right side through Musongole and Francis Chimbayo, whose clever interplay produced a low cut-back that was swiftly gathered by Bullets goalkeeper Ganizani Banda at the near post.
Moments later, the visitors came knocking again, this time through Brian Mwase, who found space on the right but opted to shoot from a tight angle instead of cutting the ball back into the area. From that point on, the young Maule pressed forward, creating a series of chances but failing to convert any into goals.
Seeking to stabilize the midfield, the technical bench made the first change of the match, replacing Happy Dominic to inject fresh legs and balance.
After the restart, Ekhaya Reserves looked sharper and more composed. The introduction of Bernardo Mofolo for Kenneth Mwale added creativity and control in midfield.
His presence immediately lifted the team, as we began to dictate play and carve out more openings.
Mofolo came close to breaking the deadlock with a well-placed effort after some neat link-up play, but the Bullets keeper stood firm to keep it goalless.
Sensing a shift in momentum, Bullets Reserves coach Heston Munthali made a triple substitution, bringing on Prince Chalera, Mussah Bwanali, and Henzie Manganyera for Steven, Banda, and Dan White.
Not to be outdone, we responded with our own tactical adjustment, introducing Peter Kasiya for Maxwell Sakanamba, who had a quiet afternoon despite his hard work. The substitution injected fresh pace and urgency down the flanks as Ekhaya pushed for a late winner.
Both sides traded blows in the final minutes, but the finishing touch remained elusive. In the end, it was a fair result for two well-organized teams that gave everything but couldn’t find a way past each other.
What It Means
The draw takes Ekhaya Reserves to 41 points after 20 games, extending their lead at the top of the FCB Katswiri U20 League to six points over second-placed Mighty Wanderers Reserves, who play next Saturday away at Mwanza United.
What’s Next
The reigning champions will be back in action next weekend for another crucial league fixture as they continue their pursuit of back-to-back titles
