Photo Credit - Football Association of Malawi.
Malawi coach Kalisto Pasuwa has bemoaned the two penalties decision in the Flames' 2-0 loss to the Carthage Eagles in a Group H World Cup qualifier on Monday.
The hosts looked frustrated until the last five minutes of the match in Tunis where substitute forward Seifeddine Jaziri scored in the 87th minute before ensuring the win through Elias Achouri penalty.
In a post-match interview with the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) media, Pasuwa felt his side deserved something from the game.
“A painful defeat. We played well in the first 45 minutes where we were solid; frustrating these guys. They couldn't manage to break us through,” he said.
“We did well defensively and had chances where we could have taken the lead but in the second half, we made tactical chances, and the other guys came in. [But] after having the red card on Lyon [Aaron] we had some problems dealing with the pressure but went all the way to 84 minutes. We were solid. We wanted to catch them on the break but the numbers couldn't allow that.”
Pasuwa, who has now suffered back-to-back defeats in the group, including 1-0 to Namibia at home, said the red card on midfielder Llyod Aaron proved the turning point of the game.
“We conceded in the 86th minute. The boys looked down but I thought that goal was offside. Yes, he pushed him and then the second time the same thing again, he dived and they awarded a penalty.”
The Zimbabwean also felt the penalty his side earned late in the game was soft. Striker Richard Mbulu had his spot kick saved by the Tunisia keeper.
“In the dying minutes, we had a penalty that we missed but I thought that was a soft penalty to us. Maybe he [the referee] was trying to manage the situation but that is what football is all about,” he added.
The defeat ended Malawi’s World Cup qualification hopes. The Flames are in second place from the bottom with six points, 10 points behind the runaway leaders Tunisia. The Carthage Eagles have not conceded in the group while scoring nine goals, winning five games, and drawing once.
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