By SAMUEL LUKHANDA
At Levy Mwanawasa –
Zesco 1 Lumwana 1

• ZESCO United forward Jackson Mwanza takes off as Lumwana Radiants defenders Enock Chingwele(3) and Andrew Banda (8) try to stop him during the 1-1 draw yesterday at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium. Picture by SAMUEL LUKHANDA

ZESCO United’s 100 per cent winning start to the 2016 MTN-FAZ premier division was ended by promotion side Lumwana Radiants in an exciting rescheduled Week-One mid-week game.
Zesco Kenyan forward Jesse-Jackson Were turned from hero to villain after he gave the champions the lead in the sixth minute and then missed a spot-kick at the stroke of halftime after referee Wisdom Chewe gave a controversial penalty.
Zesco playmaker Cletus Chama was put through on goal but took a heavy touch and Lumwana goalkeeper Joel Kanyema came out to snatch the ball off his legs but made contact and went to the ground easily and immediately saw referee Wisdon Chewe point to the spot.
This enraged the Lumwana players who surrounded the referee but nothing changed and when Were stepped up to take the penalty, his successful conversion was called back for encroachment and Kanyema guessed correctly in the re-take to save his side the blushes.
But before that penalty miss, Lumwana had replied to Zesco’s goal with one of their own through Hilary Bwalya in the 31st minute when he beat Jacob Banda with a low-cross shot off a George Chisala looped pass.
A compact, well organised Lumwana frustrated Zesco for most part of the afternoon but the champions forwards should be kicking their heels after they wasted a myriad of chances especially in the second half.
This result takes Zesco to 16 points off six games, three behind league leaders Nkana who have played one game more.
Arrows 1 Nakambala 0
And from Nkoloma Stadium, SANDRA MWILA reports that Red Arrows yesterday ended Nakambala Leopards’ 14-match unbeaten run in this hard fought win.
Little-known Joseph Phiri scored the all-important goal a minute from half time to send the handful of fans in the stands into a frenzy.
Phiri volleyed in a beauty from outside the box that stunned the visitors and all the efforts to get an equaliserl failed including rare chances to Signs Chibambo.
The airmen flew into seventh place with 11 points while Patrick Phiri’s Nakambala boys remain in fifth place, a point above their conquerors.