By JIM FIKOLOMA AT NAKAMBALA STADIUM –
Nakambala 1 Zanaco 2
ZANACO yesterday put up a spirited fight after coming from a goal down to beat stubborn Nakambala Leopards to maintain a three-point lead over champions Zesco United.
The bankers, who finished the match a man down, lead the log with 17 points after the MTN-FAZ Super League Week Seven matches played.
Zesco United beat Konkola Blades to pile pressure on Zanaco while at the end of the table Lusaka Dynamos picked up their first win after beating troubled Napsa Stars.
In Mazabuka, Nakambala started the match brightly taking the lead through Lameck Banda who finished off a Sings Chibambo pass in the sixth minute as the home side dictated play though the lead was brief.
Zanaco came back into the game as Nakambala looked content with the slender lead through Henry Banda who tapped in a Saulani Phiri’s artfully pass to level the scores in the 43rd minute.
Saulani Banda gave Zanaco the lead in first half stoppage time as he sliced through the Nakambala defence before leaving Moses Mapulanga flat footed
Andrew Kwiliko’s crude tackle on Junior Zulu in the 62nd minute left Kabwe based referee Allan Simukonda with no choice but to flash a red but Nakambala failed to make most of their numerical advantage.
Blades 0 Zesco 1
Zesco United beat their hosts Konkola Blades away at Nchanga Stadium in Chingola to pick up their first away win of the season, reports KALUMIANA KALUMIANA.
The win also saw Zesco extend their unbeaten run after ending Blades unbeaten start to this year’s campaign.
Zesco and Blades went into the break scoreless in what was a cagey first half affair.
However, midfielder Justin Zulu had two fine opportunities from his trademark free kicks in the 33rd minute parried by Stephen Kabwe and later shot wide in the 38th minute.
The deadlock was broken in the 71st minute when an unmarked Cletus Chama fired in the ball past Stephen Kabwe off a corner. Zesco move up to 14 points from six matches played with a game in hand.
Rangers 0 Buffaloes 1
In the second match played at Nchanga Stadium and also beamed live on SuperSport, Green Buffaloes picked up their second win of the season after shocking beating Nchanga Rangers.
Substitute Fellon Sitonya scored the games’ lone goal in the78th minute when he tapped in a pass from inspirational Buffaloes winger Allan Mukuka to confine Nchanga to their second successive league defeat.
Five minutes later Nchanga goalkeeper Jairo Mulenga kept the margin respectable when he parried Percy Biloyti’s close-range header.
Meanwhile, Buffaloes had a glorious chance in the 58th minute amazingly wasted when Chileshe Kangwa ballooned his shot from point-blank range off a cross from Mukuka with Mulenga already beaten.
Arrows 3 Eagles 0
Arrows moved out of the relegation zone with a well-deserved win over Green Eagles, who missed the chance to move into third place on the table.
Goals from Stanley Nshimbi, Shadreck Malambo in the 43rd and Lubinda Mundia six minutes later sealed the win for Arrows who moved to eight points, two behind their visitors.
Nkwazi 2 Assembly 1
At Edwin Imboela Stadium, GWEN CHIPASULA reports that Nkwazi moved into third position on 10 points after beating National Assembly in what is promising to be a good run for the ‘policemen’.
Roderick Zimba scored a fifth minute header from a corner to give Nkwazi a deserved lead after a quick start but Assembly levelled matters in the 31st minute through striker Gamphani Lungu.
Nkwazi started the second half strongest with Chikwanda Kalaba scoring in the 56th minute heading in from a Mwapya Kasongo corner to leave Assembly rooted on five points.
Wanderers 2 Forest 1
From Shinde Stadium, ALBERT KAMUSWEKE reports that ‘Mighty’ Mufulira Wanderers halted Forest Rangers’ two-game winning streak as they collected maximum points to put their campaign back on track after dropping points in previous games.
Progress Kalengo put the home side ahead when he headed in a Jacob Ngulube free kick on 18 minutes as Wanderers held on to the lead into the break.
After restart, Forest upped their game and it was Makokwa Mundia, who restored parity in the 56th minute with a power header off Gift Sakuwaha’s delivery.
However, Forest’s celebrations were short lived as substitute Nocolas Kamocha restored Wanderers’ lead 12 minutes later to earn the home side three points.
Napsa 1 Dynamos 2
At Woodlands Stadium in Lusaka, SANDRA MWILA reports that Napsa Stars Interim coach Alfred Mulawo watched helplessly as his side was well beaten by Lusaka Dynamos.
With the executive committee last week opting to put head coach Hector Chilombo on indefinite suspension, hope they have not already started regretting the decision to hire Mulawo as the defeat left Napsa bottom of the log with four points.
Dynamos opened the scores in the 53rd minute through Thomas Kunda who finished off a Collins Kombe cross but Naps equalised in the 67 minute through Davies Mwape.
Dynamos, who have played so well in past matches but failed to win, finally got their first win of the season when Bwalya Mutale scored in the 90th minute to move his side to six points.