…Civil 3-1 Eagles
LILONGWE -(MaraviPost)-Civil Service United FC on Sunday continued with a splendid run in the league this season as they registered another emphatic 3-1 home victory over Blue Eagles to complete a double this season at Civo Stadium.
Civil Service started brightly and created their first chance in the 7th minute when Righteous Banda unleashed a thunderous shot.
Elias Missi parried it away, but the ball ricocheted off defender Sankhani Mkandawire, struck the upright, and was caught by Missi at the second attempt.
Head coach Deklek Msakakuona was forced into an early substitution in the 15th minute when right-back Davie Malenguka experienced dizziness and required medical attention. He was replaced by Trouble Banda.
Civil Service continued to press. In the 25th minute, Khumbo Mhone floated a cross from the right flank, and Righteous Banda’s powerful shot deflected off Laurent Banda for a corner which Eagles defended successfully.
At the half-hour mark, the home side won another corner after Ganizani James deflected the ball out. Damiano Kunje’s delivery was cleared by Maxwell Gustavo.
Moments later, Lanken Mwale found Sankhani Mkandawire with a free kick from the far right, but Mkandawire’s glancing header hit the side netting in the 33rd minute.
Eagles had their best chance in the 35th minute when Lanken Mwale, set through by Gilbert Chirwa, forced a save from goalkeeper Rahaman John.
In the 42nd minute, Chikaiko Batison headed wide from a dangerous cross by Kunje.
However, three minutes into added time, Batison made no mistake, heading home Charles Mafaiti’s swinging cross from the byline to give Civil Service a 1-0 lead at the break.
Civil Service came out with greater intensity and dominated the midfield.
In the 54th minute, the hosts completed 13 passes before Kunje curled a cross to Dastain Banda, whose effort found the net to make it 2-0.
Just four minutes later, Civil Service extended their lead.
Frank Chizuze capitalized on a defensive error, connecting with a Chikaiko Batison pass to make it 2-0 in the 58th minute.
Coach Msakakuona responded immediately with a double substitution in the 59th minute, bringing on Micium Mhone and Tonic Viyuyi for Webster Mzunda and Lanken Mwale.
Eagles kept pushing for goals but struggled to maintain possession as Civil Service controlled the tempo.
The visitors lacked fluidity in their play and continually lost the ball in midfield.
Substitute Micium Mhone pulled one back in the 74th minute.
Laurent Banda delivered a high ball into the box, and after both Mkandawire and defender, Dambuleni failed to deal with it, Mhone pounced on the loose ball and unleashed a powerful shot into the net.
Just as Eagles hoped to mount a comeback, they conceded again in the 79th minute.
Dastain Banda beat Sankhani Mkandawire with a clever dummy before slotting past Missi into an empty net to restore the three-goal cushion at 3-1.
Eagles made further changes, with John Banda and Arthur Moffat replacing Maxwell Gustavo and Gilbert Chirwa as the formation switched from 4-4-2 to 3-5-2.
While Banda helped stabilize the midfield, the changes came too late.
Pius Saka received a yellow card in the 90th minute for a foul on Kunje.
In the closing minutes, Eagles pressed with urgency but lacked the precision needed to threaten the Civil Service goal.
The final whistle confirmed a disappointing defeat and completed a league double for Civil Service, who also won 2-0 at Nankhaka Stadium in the first round.
Civil Service United Assistant coach Joseph Kachuke praised his boys for executing the game plan well, “The boys followed what we told them to do hence the victory.
“We are very grad we haven’t lost any game since June this just tells you that our players are focused and following what they are being told during training”, said Kachule.
His counterpart Blue Eagles FC Head Coach, Deklek Msakakuona said: “We have ten games remaining before we wrap up the season, and we will assess how to approach and finish the league.
“Conceding those two goals in the first and second half demoralized us, but we must prepare for our next assignment on Wednesday at home.”
With the victory the servants are now on position 5 with 36 points tied with the defending Champions who have two games in hand as Civil has played more, 20.
Despite the loss, Eagles remain in 7th position with 28 points from 20 games.
The team’s next match is against Mighty Wanderers FC at home at Nankhaka Stadium on Wednesday.
Wanderers defeated the cops 3-1 at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre during the first round.
The post 2025 TNM Super league: Civil complete a double over cops appeared first on The Maravi Post.