Ekhaya FC Stun Blue Eagles as Mchema Brace Ends Their Title Charge

 
Ekhaya FC dealt a major blow to Standard Bank Blue Eagles’ title ambitions after recording an impressive 2-1 victory at Mpira Stadium in Chiwembe, Blantyre.

John Francis Mchema was the hero of the afternoon, scoring twice to secure all three points for the Cowboys. Substitute Pius Saka scored the visitors’ only goal.

Ekhaya took the lead in the 21st minute when Mchema converted a pass from Blessings Malinda, sending the hosts into the break with a 1-0 advantage.

Blue Eagles responded strongly after the restart, introducing Saka in an attempt to change the game. The substitution paid off in the 61st minute when the forward capitalised on a defensive mistake before firing home a superb volley from outside the penalty area to make it 1-1.

However, Ekhaya regained the lead nine minutes later. Mchema completed his brace in the 70th minute after receiving an assist from Samuel Rukura Khedira, restoring the hosts’ advantage and securing a valuable victory.

Mchema’s outstanding performance earned him the Player of the Match award.

The match also produced two yellow cards. Blue Eagles defender Davie Phiri was booked in the 26th minute for a foul on Wongani Kaponya, while Ekhaya’s Charles Mafaiti received a caution in the 43rd minute.

Speaking after the match, Ekhaya interim head coach Fundi Akidu said his team would quickly turn its attention to the upcoming fixtures rather than dwell on the victory.

“We will not dwell on today’s result. Our sights are set on trying to get positive results in the next matches so that we can put ourselves in a better position,” Akidu said.

He also praised Mchema’s contribution and expressed confidence in the striker’s future.

Meanwhile, Blue Eagles coach Deklerk Msakakuona admitted that his side had paid the price for failing to convert their scoring opportunities.

“We managed to get chances which we did not convert, and that’s football. You get penalised for not using the chances,” he said.

Despite the defeat, Msakakuona remained optimistic about his team’s chances of returning to the top of the standings.

“We have lost, but I respect God’s time. It was not our day. We will go back to the drawing board and prepare for the next games. We have a lot more games to play; we will bounce back,” he added.

The victory moves Ekhaya FC into fifth position with 25 points from 18 matches, having recorded six wins, seven draws and five defeats.

Blue Eagles remain third with 34 points from the same number of matches. Their record now stands at 11 victories, one draw and six losses.

For Ekhaya, the result represents an important boost, while Blue Eagles will need a strong response in their next fixtures to keep their title ambitions alive.