By NDINAWE SIMPELWE At Levy Mwanawasa Stadium –

Buildcon 1 Zanaco 1
BUILDCON coach Tenant Chembo said his team is progressing well despite failing to hold on to a slender lead and allowed a Zanaco side that offered very little on the pitch to snatch a draw three minutes from time.
The Ndola side was made to rue missed chances and had to pay for their delaying tactics after Ernest Mbewe equalised for Zanaco in the 87th minute.
Rahim Osmanu put Buildcon ahead in the 39th minute through a header from a Fahad Bayo cross and the hosts had numerous chances to kill off the game but were guilty of poor finishing in front of goal.
Even their attempt to employ delaying tactics did not help and referee Audrick Nkole was forced to withdraw the ball boys who also joined in the act.
Chembo said in a post-match interview that it was a pity that his side was failing to kill off matches despite dominating play and condemned the ball boys for their behaviour as it killed the spirit of fair play.
“When you are playing a big team like Zanaco and you have a chance to kill them off, you need to do that or else they will punish you. We had the chance to win it but am happy with the progression of the team,” Chembo said.
Zanaco Mumamba Numba attributed the team’s draw against Buildcon to fatigue.
Numba said he was happy with a point away from home but said the team had not recovered from the long travel to Morocco where they were competing the CAF Confederation Cup against Raja Casablanca.
“We were playing a very good team and picking a point away from home is not bad. I think we have not recovered enough after travelling to Morocco but I was happy with the second half performance,” Numba said.
Meanwhile, Zanaco’s efforts to salvage a point yielded results in the 87th minute through a Mbewe pinpoint shot from a Taonga Bwembya pass.
It was the first time Zanaco dropped points this season in the league and have 13 points on fifth position while Buildcon are 16th with six points.