KITWE UTD HUMBLE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
By Chongo Bwalya
at Garden Park
Kitwe 2 Assembly 0
KITWE United yesterday started off the second half of the season on a winning note after beating National Assembly in the FAZ-KCM Week-16 thrilling encounter that saw two players red-carded.
Both teams started well although Kitwe had more of the goalmouth action unlike the visitors who played in midfield.
The ‘Buchi Boys’ broke the ice in the 20th minute when Joseph Sitali rifled home after Assembly goalkeeper, Yusuf Lomu, spilled an equally hard Mabvuto Zulu shot.
Kitwe goalkeeper Daniel Mbao ensured the home side led 1-0 at halftime when he parried away a goalward grass-cutter from James Chamanga.
In the second-half, the hosts came more into the game, but international Nchimunya Mweetwa could not tick until coach Peter Kaumba withdrew him for Simeo Lubemba.
Lubemba brought life to the frontline and had a weak shot from a gilt-edge chance stopped by Lomu in the 57th minute.
In the heat of the game, referee Cornelius Mwanza sent to the showers Kitwe’s Trinity Chilanshi and Assembly’s Maxwell Mulenga who traded insults.
After the departure of the two players, Kitwe continued pressing hard for another goal and their efforts paid off in the 65th minute when Lubemba stabbed home from a Felix Mangwato right wing cross.
Assembly, however, failed to go past the Kitwe defence of Bronson Chama and Terrence Mpundu as their strikers Kelvin Simbeye and Nephias Banda could not put their act together.
