Tanzania giants Simba upset their Malawian counterparts Nyasa Big Bullets 2-0 in a CAF Champions League preliminary round first leg match in Blantyre on Saturday afternoon.
The Msimbazi Reds led 1-0 by half time through a strike by Zambian international Moses Phiri in the 28th minute.
In the second half, ‘Simba added their second in the 84th minute courtesy of substitute John Raphael Bocco.
Big Bullers were forceful going forward in the opening exchanges and Franck Willard had a big chance to give them the lead in the 10th minute after going through on goal from Ernest Petro’s pass, one-on-one with goalkeeper Aishi Manulabut he scooped his shot over the crossbar.
The game opened up after that but it took up until just 20th minute for a clear-cut opportunity, as Clatous Chama latched onto flicked header by Pape Sakho in the six-yard box but his first-time strike was smothered by Richard Chimbamba.
Eight minutes later, Phiri eventually opened the scoring with a close-range finish at the back post after a well-weighted cross by Clatous Chama.
While the Peoples’ Team absorbed the pressure and struggled to get out of their own half, Juma Mgunda’s charges created more openings and they almost had a second goal on 25 minutes after Joh Lanjesi cleared Sakho’s header off the line after goalkeeper Chimbamba could not collect a high ball.
Overall, it was a disappointing opening 45 minutes from the People’s Teamg who were only able to force one save out of Simba goalkeeper Manula, while Juma Mgunda would have felt his side deserved more goals.
Big Bullets had a bright start in the second stanza, as Adepoju Babatunde had a cracking strike from outside the box that needed strong hands from Manula.
The game opened up as Kalisto Pasuwa’s charges were threatening to get the equaliser and Mgunda made a tactical change 22 minutes before time as attacker John Bocco replaced Sadio Kanoute.
The Msimbazi Reds their reward in the final eight minutes through Bocco, who got on the end of Mwenda’s cross to send a powerful shot into the back of the net.
Big Bullets threatened going forward but their final ball in the last third let them down as Simba did enough to hold on to an away victory.
