Malawi 3-2 Eritrea

The Flames of Malawi edged Eritrea in a five goal thriller in the Cecafa Tusker Cup2012 group C match played on a soggy Mandela National Stadium, Namboole on Wednesday afternoon.

A brace from Chuikepo Msowoya and a single strike from Miciam Mhone was all Malawi needed a resilient Eritrean side which scored through Yosief Ghide and Hermon Tacleab.

Malawi took the lead as the early as the 3rd minute when an unmarked Chiukepo Msowoya headed home powerfully a brilliant cross from MiciamMhone on the right flank.

In the 11th minute, the provider turned striker as Miciam Mhone long range shot from over 25 yards found the back of the net to make it 2-0 for the Cecafa guests. 

Msowoya should have added the third and his second on the day in the 27th minute but his shot towards an empty net after Eritrean custodian Fitsum Kelat had miscued a back pass from his defender fell on a flood patch in the goal area allowing an Eritrean defender to clear danger.

After recess, Eritrea started the brighter team and should have scored in the 51st minute but Medhanie Redie’s weak shot after rounding off the Malawi defence was well saved by Charles Swini, the Flames goalkeeper.

Despite pressure from the Eritreans, it was Malawi that got on the score sheet again as Chuikepo Msowoya’s powerful header in the 67th minute after a cross from skipper Moses Chavula on the left hit the back of the net.

Eritrea got one back two minutes later with Ghide Yosief slotting home after Malawian goalie Swini failed to stop a cross from the right flank. Ghide calmly rounded off the goalie to slot home.

The Eritreans got their second of the match in the 90th minute when Hermon Tacleab sent Swini the wrong way from the penalty spot after a foul on the Eritrean forward Ghide in the forbidden area.

The win lifted Malawi from bottom to second place in group C with three points from two games while Eritrea are now fourth. In the next game of the group, Rwanda takes on Zanzibar at the same stadium.