Full-Time Scores : Red Arrows 2 – 0 Bauleni Queens (Mary Mulenga, Libanji Ochumba)
Red Arrows Women Football Club completed a double over a determined Bauleni side beating them 2 goals to nil in a week 20 encounter played at the Bank of Zambia (BoZ) Sports Club Grounds on 6th July 2019.
Arrows won 3-nil in the reverse fixture in a week 7 match played at Prince Takamado Football Ground and were a more favorable side going into this game but had to overcome a resilient and Ambitious Bauleni side who gave them a good run for their money.
A Goal each from Mary Mulenga and Libanji Ochumba in the second half was enough to hand the Coach Simon Bwale tutored side maximum 3 points.
Bwale made 2 substitutions in the first half resting Milika Limwanya and Christabel Chibambo and introduced Libanji Ochumba and Alines Kasoma respectively. The duo was a threat in the match though they couldn’t break the Bauleni defense line led by a skillful Diana Banda, Martha Phiri, and Sarah Mumba were very solid and strong at the back.
Both teams went into the break deadlocked as they failed to unlock each other. The second half started from where it finished off in the first stanza.
Mulenga scored from a direct free-kick on the right wing in the Bauleni half just a few minutes after the break before Wilombe set up Ochumba with a through ball and beat the offside trap as she lobbed the ball past an Onrushing Namonje to find the back of the net for the third time against Bauleni this season.
It was a game of fewer chances.
Nalwamba, the Arrows Goal Minder was not troubled that much but she should thank the post for denying Esther Banda a goal from a free-kick which was one of the goal attempts from the away side.
Her opposite number Namonje had quite a good game in between the sticks for Bauleni and put up a great shift with quick reactions saving Ochumba and Wilombe shorts on target.
Arrows Captain Rebecca Nyirenda led her defense line very well partnering with Elizabeth Nachivula alongside Meckjoice Mwanza And Teselia Zulu to give no chance to Sherri Shamasumo and Memory Musonda.
Debora Nyamulongo who was introduced later in the second half brought in some more firepower for Arrows. Alines hit the upright towards the dying minutes of the match but that did not worry Namonje in goal, Diana Banda and Constance Kamusu who continued to be solid at the heart of the Bauleni defense.
Bauleni is a young side with talented players and going forward they may be a force to be reckoned with as they showed great fighting spirit. The likes of Salome Phiri, Liba Musonda and Esther Banda were outstanding in the game stringing great passes together but lost it in the final third.
Bauleni did not leave any stone unturned as they fought for all 50-50 balls and challenges giving arrows a tough time to penetrate. Bauleni Coach Kaluba Kangwa was okay with his team’s performance but he is looking forward to bringing in more strikers, a department which needs some attention.
While his opposite counterpart Simon Bwale wasn’t impressed with how his side played but they did what mattered the most, to score and collected maximum 3 points.
Red Arrows Starting XI
Nalwamba Susan, Meckjoice Mwanza, Teselia Zulu, Rebecca Nyirenda, Elizabeth Nachivula, Milika Limwanya, Mary Mambwe, Ilis Phiri, Christabel Chibambo, Mulai Wilombe, Mary Mulenga.
Substitute Bench
Libanji Ochumba, Deborah Nyamulongo, Doreen Mwaseba, Alines Kasoma, Tukiya Mufishi, Emeldah Musonda, Jane Mutambo.
Head Coach: Simon Bwale
Bauleni Queens
Memory Namonje, Martha Phiri, Sarah Mumba, Constance Kamusu, Diana Banda, Esther Banda, Salome Phiri, Liba Musonda, Sherri Shamasumo, Memory Musonda, Marriam Nyirenda.
Substitute Bench
Elina Mwanza, Margaret Tamba, Emeldah Chewe, Gloria Janza, Brenda Chirwa, Lizzy Banda, Betty Bwalya.
Head Coach: Kaluba Kangwa
