Malawi 2-2 Liberia Player Ratings: G. Mhango 9/10 Rated as Stunning Comeback Secures a 2-2 Draw

What a rollercoaster of a match at the Bingu National Stadium. From our perspective, this felt like two different games. For over an hour, Liberia looked completely dominant, cruising towards a comfortable victory in the CAF World Cup Qualifiers. They went 2-0 up and it seemed like lights out for Malawi. Ayouba Kosiah was simply brilliant for Liberia, netting two goals and looking like a world-beater. Malawi seemed disjointed and unable to cope with Liberia's direct play. But football is a funny old game, isn't it?

Then, something shifted. A goal from G. Mhango ignited a fire in the home side, and suddenly, the entire momentum of the match changed. The comeback was sealed by substitute Chawanangwa Kaonga, sending the home fans into fury. Malawi showed incredible heart to fight back for a 2-2 draw, while Liberia will be kicking themselves for letting a two-goal lead slip away. Here are the Malawi vs Liberia player ratings.

Liberia Player Ratings vs Malawi

Here are the Liberia player ratings.

Goalkeeper

Junior Yeanaye - 5.5: For 70 minutes, he had a relatively quiet day. He couldn't do much about the goals that flew past him. However, his command of the box seemed to vanish under Malawi's late pressure. He looked shaky and indecisive when it mattered most. A game that started so well ended in disappointment.

Defenders

Kemoh Kamara - 6.0: He was part of a defensive line that looked so solid for the first hour. From our view, he was winning his duels and keeping things tidy. But when Malawi turned up the heat, he and his fellow defenders just couldn't handle it. They lost their shape and composure completely. A frustrating end to his game.

Prince Balde - 5.5: That early yellow card seemed to set the tone for his performance. He played on the edge, which was fine while his team was on top. What stood out to us was how rattled he became late on. He was pulled out of position for the second goal and seemed to lose his cool.

Nelson Laomie - 6.5: A very mixed performance from Laomie. He did get an assist for Kosiah's second goal which was a great contribution going forward. Defensively, however, he was exposed during Malawi's comeback. He offered an attacking threat but was found wanting in his primary duties during the crucial final twenty minutes.

Philip Tarnue - 5.5: He was another defender who ended up in the referee's book late in the game. His frustration was visible as the lead disappeared. For much of the match, he was solid enough, but like the rest of the backline, he crumbled when put under sustained pressure. The late collapse reflects poorly on the entire defense.

Midfielders

Sheikh Sesay - 6.5: He started the match brilliantly, providing the assist for the opening goal inside three minutes. His energy in the midfield was a key reason Liberia dominated the first half. However, his influence faded significantly after halftime. It was no surprise to see him substituted just after the hour mark.

Solomon Tweh - 6.0: A workhorse performance in the middle of the park. He battled for every ball and tried to disrupt Malawi's rhythm. We noticed he was effective for a long period. But as the game wore on, he was simply overwhelmed by Malawi's numbers in midfield and couldn't stem the tide.

Oscar - 6.0: As the captain, he tried to lead his team, but he was powerless to stop the late collapse. His passing was neat and tidy for most of the game. From our perspective, he failed to provide the defensive screen his backline desperately needed in the final act. It was a tough lesson for the skipper.

Forwards

Ayouba Kosiah - 8.5: Undoubtedly Liberia's best player. He was clinical, scoring a well-taken goal with his foot and a powerful header. He was a constant threat and deserved to be on the winning side. It's a shame his team couldn't hold on because his individual performance was absolutely top-class. He was a nightmare for the Malawi defense.

William Gibson - 6.0: He had some bright moments and worked hard off the ball. He linked up play reasonably well but lacked a decisive impact in the final third. He was putting in a shift but it made sense when he was substituted. An okay performance, but nothing spectacular.

Edward Ledlum - 6.0: Similar to his attacking partner Gibson, Ledlum was busy but ineffective. He made some good runs and got into decent positions. What let him down was his final ball and lack of composure in front of goal. He was replaced as Liberia looked to see out the game, a move that ultimately backfired.

Substitutes

Nohan Kenneh - 5.5: Brought on to shore up the midfield, but he failed to make an impact. The game was chaotic when he entered, and he couldn't get a foothold. He struggled to stop Malawi's momentum.

Jegbay Morris Konneh - N/A: Came on but had little time to influence the proceedings.

Divine Teah - N/A: Didn't have enough minutes to warrant a rating.

Manager

T. Kojo - 5.0: For 70 minutes, his game plan was perfect. His team was 2-0 up and looked completely in control. However, his failure to react to Malawi's resurgence was alarming. His substitutions didn't help, and watching his team collapse so dramatically falls squarely on his shoulders. A tactical failure.

Malawi Player Ratings vs Liberia

Here are the Malawi player ratings.

Goalkeeper

William Thole - 6.0: He couldn't have done much about either of Liberia's goals. They were well-taken finishes from Ayouba Kosiah. Outside of the goals, he wasn't tested much. He did what was asked of him, but it was a strange game where he conceded twice without having a lot to do. A quiet day, despite the scoreline.

Defenders

McDonald Lameck - 5.5: He had a torrid time trying to contain Ayouba Kosiah. The Liberian forward had his number for most of the match. Lameck looked a step off the pace and was eventually substituted. It wasn't a surprise to see him taken off as the manager looked for a way back into the game.

Denis Chembezi - 6.0: Like the rest of the Malawi defence, he looked all at sea in the first hour. He struggled with Liberia's physicality and directness. To his credit, he looked much more composed as his team took control of the game.

Alick Lungu - 6.0: A difficult defensive assignment for Lungu. He was often caught between marking his man and supporting the attack. We noticed he was much more effective when he was able to push forward late in the game. His defensive positioning was questionable at times, especially for the second goal.

Midfielders

Charles Petro - 6.5: He was a tireless runner in the heart of midfield. In the first half, the game seemed to pass him by. But as Malawi started to believe, he became more influential. He started winning his tackles and driving his team forward.

Lloyd Aaron - 6.0: He received a yellow card for a pretty cynical foul. He worked incredibly hard, but his use of the ball was inconsistent. Sometimes his passion boiled over into recklessness. A committed but flawed performance. He never gave up, which his team needed.

Lloyd Njaliwa - 6.5: The quieter of the midfielders, but he did his job effectively. He kept possession moving and helped link the defence to the attack. As Malawi grew in confidence, so did he. He provided the platform for the more creative players to spark the comeback.

Patrick Mwaungulu - 5.0: A really anonymous performance. From our perspective, he was a passenger for the hour he was on the pitch. He created nothing and seemed off the pace. His substitution was a necessary change that helped turn the game around.

Forwards

Wisdom Mpinganjira - 6.0: He showed some nice touches and moments of skill but lacked a cutting edge. He tried to make things happen but often ran into dead ends. He was substituted as part of the manager's tactical reshuffle that ultimately paid off.

Richard Mbulu - 6.5: It was a frustrating day for the forward, who was starved of service for large parts of the match. What stood out to us was his relentless work rate. He chased every lost cause and his physical presence tired out the Liberian defenders, creating space for others late on.

G. Mhango - 9.0: What a performance. The captain, the leader, the man of the match. When his team was down and out, he sparked the comeback with a great header. He then provided the crucial assist for the equalizer. He was the highest-rated player on the pitch, and he single-handedly dragged his team back into the game. A phenomenal display of leadership.

Substitutes

Mayele Malango - 6.5: Came on and immediately added energy and a direct threat.

Chawanangwa Kaonga - 8.0: The super sub. He came off the bench and scored the dramatic late equalizer. His introduction completely changed the game. An incredible impact from the substitute, who wrote his name all over this match.

Lanjesi Nkhoma - 6.5: Added fresh legs and helped pin Liberia back in their own half during the final stages.

Manager

P. Mabedi - 8.0: His team looked dead and buried at 2-0. What an incredible turnaround. His substitutions were absolutely inspired. Bringing on Chawanangwa Kaonga, who scored the equalizer, was a masterstroke. He deserves immense credit for recognizing what wasn't working and having the courage to change it so effectively.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is G. Mhango