By Sandra Mwila –
at Sunset
Zanaco 2-0 Arrows
A STUTTERING Zanaco yesterday cut Nkana’s lead at the top of the MTN-FAZ premier table to just one point, for at least 24 hours, after this straightforward win over inconsistent Lusaka rivals, Red Arrows.
After going three games without a win, which watered down their fine start to the season, the 10-man Zanaco were all over Red Arrows whom they ended up punishing with two unanswered goals that lifted the ‘bankers’ to 25 points, one less than Nkana, who play today.
Both sides have played 11 games.
Zanaco took the lead in the ninth minute through Seth Sakala who headed in a Fackson Kapumbu cross to get a dream start to this match.
On 62 minutes, Zanaco defender Aaron Katebe was given marching orders by Kitwe referee Gladys Lengwe for deliberately handling the ball.
This saw his coach Numba Mumamba sacrifice striker Augustine Mulenga for Lee Ngoma as Zanaco looked to protect the lead.
While Arrows were expected to push for an equaliser, it was Zanaco who confirmed the points in the 79th minute through Rodrick Kabwe who netted a penalty after Logic Ching’andu was brought down in the box by a forceful Joseph Zimba.
With Zanaco on 25 points, Nkana have to beat Lumwana to stay a tab ahead of the chasing pack. Arrows slid two places down to 11th.
Wanderers 1 Nakambala 0
‘Mighty’ Mufulira Wanderers seem to have effectively exorcised the ghost that put them on a nine-match winless streak and showed that yesterday by picking up a second straight win that took them up to mid table, RONALD CHAWE reports.
Nchimunya Munene’s powerful header at the stroke of half-time was all Wanderers needed to beat visiting Nakambala Leopards, who have entered a free fall on the table.
Munene rose the highest to nod in a Fumbani Muwowo’s free kick from the right to beat Caesar Njovu who only parried the ball into his own net.
After the break, the visitors continued with the fast-paced approach that saw them force five corners in five minutes but none could be converted with Vanacious Mapande guilty in the 55th minute after being put through by Judge Mkandawire. The former Zanaco forward saw his effort saved by goalie Robert Mwanza
This win saw the home side move six places up to seventh position with 15 points, while the visitors dropped to 13th position and remained stuck on 13 points.
Tigers 0 Nkwazi 0
At Independence Stadium, visiting Nkwazi played out a goalless draw against Lusaka Tigers in a drab game whose biggest highlight was a two-minute stoppage to allow for a swarm of bees to peacefully fly over the stadium, Adrian Mwanza writes.
After a quiet first half, Tigers came back rejuvenated with Davies Mwanza seeing his free-kick tipped over the bar by Nkwazi keeper Makasa Kalaba in the 75th minute. Nkwazi responded through captain Chipungu Musukuma who blasted a shot over the cross bar in the 80th minute.
Nkwazi stayed fifth on 19 points while Lusaka Tigers hang just above the relagation waters on 13 points.
Buffaloes 1 Napsa 1
Napsa Stars were an unrecognisable side yesterday as they outplayed Green Buffaloes in coach Tenant Chilumba’s first game in charge, Yvonne Sakala writes from Independence Stadium.
In an interesting first half, a goal from either team turned to be the deciding factor with Green Buffaloes openning the scores as early as the second minute through Brian Mwila who finished off a Diamond Chikwekwe delicious cross as Napsa defenders ball-watched.
But the celebration was cut shot six minutes with Napsa responding through Martin Tembo who headed in a Chisenga Lukwembe’s cross on eight minutes to level the matters.
With the draw, Buffaloes move to 19 points while relegation threatened Napsa are on 13 points and barely keeping their noses above the relegation waters.
Warriors 1 Eagles 0
Kabwe Warriors yesterday picked up a win that could have a telling effect on the future of Green Eagles coach Justin Chinama, but Mohammed Fathy will not pay any attention to that.
Coming days after complaining about the inability by Supersport to give him home coverage, Godfrey Ngwenya gave Fathy the needed energy by scoring the only goal of the game that lifted the Kabwe side to 17 points but still in seventh position.
Fathy will be happy though that he is just two points off Green Buffaloes and Nkwazi but Eagles, who fell to the seventh defeat of the season, stayed in relegation waters on 12 points.
Nchanga 0 Forest 0
In the only game that yielded no goal, Nchanga Rangers managed to keep Patrick Phiri’s Forest Rangers at bay in this dull game at Nchanga Stadium.
With this scoreless result, Forest moved to 15 points, one better than Rangers.