IT was a battle fought on foreign soil, between two coaches regarded by many as Zimbabwe’s best football brains and as hugely expected, Kalisto Pasuwa and Norman Mapeza served a sumptuous dish that left Malawian fans asking for more at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre yesterday.

However, the score line was not a true reflection of this exciting CAF Champions League preliminary round first leg duel between Pasuwa’s Nyasa Big Bullets and Mapeza’s FC Platinum.

Pasuwa, who was known for his highly precautionary and defensive football when he was still with Dynamos five years ago, seems to have totally changed his philosophy as his charges played an exciting brand of football and had the lion’s share of possession.

Still, the Malawi champions could not convert that dominance into goals.
FC Platinum were resolute in defence, which was marshalled by skipper of the day, Kelvin Madzongwe.

Mapeza applied a 3-5-2 formation and tasked wingers Rahman Kutsanzira and Gift Mbweti with the job of running up and down the flanks, a tactic that worked for the greater part of the match.

Pasuwa’s Bullets played some eye catching football. The youthful players were never overawed by the situation and even had the more experienced FC Platinum on the backfoot for most of the game.

Nyasa Big Bullets could have won the contest right at the death but substitute Bright Munthali’s effort crashed against the post in the 86th minute, with Wallace Magalane, in goals for the visitors, a beaten man.State media