ZANACO 2 – ZESCO 3.
Leaders Zesco United opened up a 5-point lead at the summit of the Faz Premier League table this afternoon after beating defending champions Zanaco 3-2 at Sunset stadium in a thrilling five-goal fest that was incident-packed befitting a top of the table clash.
Zesco got the show on the road with the opening goal in the 17th minute when Enoch Sakala put Wedson Nyirenda’s side ahead with the games opener.
The visitors were then denied a genuine clear second goal in the 36th minute after the usually flawless referee Jan Sikazwe ruled-out Nicholas Zulu’s tapped-in from a Rainford Kalaba cross.
A minute later, Ignatius Lwipa chipped the ball over Zesco goalkeeper Charles Chisha to level scores capitalizing on a rebounding shot from his team mate and striker Winston Kalengo.
Kalaba made up for the disallowed goal just a minutes after the half hour mark with a fine low drive from just outside the 18-yard area that slipped under Zambia goalkeeper George Kolala.
The goal was the leagues top scorer Kabala’s 11th of the season.
Zanaco coach Fighton Simukonda was then sent off from the bench in the 71st minute for an unsavory comment he utter to assistant number 1 referee Kenneth Chinchenga.
Bottles and objects then flew as the 80th minute approached with Zanaco’s fans showing displeasure with Sikazwe’s running of affairs on the pitch.
Zanaco captain Numba Mumamba scored in similar fashion for the hosts to restore parity in the 83rd minute with his 10th goal of the year to calm the volatile fans.
But, just when everyone though it was over, Zambia and Zesco striker Jonas Sakuwaha powered in a header with the winner two minutes from time after benefiting from a Willy Chinyama cross.
Zesc are now unbeaten from 9 successive league games and on 32 points while Zancao stay put at number 2 on 27 after suffering a rare second competitive home defeat in one season at Sunset stretching back to over three years.
The victory was also Zesco’s first away win at Sunset where they have never won since been promoted in 2004
It was also Nyirenda’s first victory over Zanaco where he was assistant coach to Simukonda for the last two years before taking over at Zesco at the beginning of this year.
NCHANGA RANGER 0- LUSAKA DYNAMOS 0.
Lusaka Dynamos stayed in 3rd place and are now just one point behind Zanaco after drawing 0-0 away in Chingola to Nchanga Rangers.
GREEN BUFFALOES 2- KONKOLA BLADES 1.
Green Buffaloes bounced back from their 2-1 home defeat at the hands of fellow defense force side Red Arrows on Wednesday in a delayed week 8 games to beat visiting Konkola Blades by a similar margin at Independence stadium in Lusaka.
Buffaloes scored their winning goals through Noel Mwandila and Brian Chilando while Mathews Muleba got Blades’ consolation.
POWER DYNAMOS 1- KABWE WARRIORS 1.
New Kabwe Warriors coach Arnold Mtonga thought he was going to have a dream start on day 1 in charge when Henry Banda gave the visitors the lead in the 14th minute away at Power Dynamos who were also under new trainer Fodson Kabole.
However, Power replied 13 minutes later through defender Francis Kasonde who scored his 3rd goal of the season to see the two sides share the points.
Mtonga was appointed Warriors coach on Thursday after taking over from Levy Chabala who resigned last week to take charge at bottom of the table Zamtel.
Kabole on the other hand replaced Lawrence Mweemba in midweek although the latter remains as assistant for now to the former Nchanga Rangers coach.
CITY OF LUSAKA 0 – YOUNG ARROWS 2.
Young Arrows beat fellow promoted side City of Lusaka 2-0 thanks to goals from Sam Gondwe and Kennedy Kashima to usurp their hosts from 6th place and relegated them to 8th spot.
RED ARROWS 2- NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 2.
Troubled Lusaka clubs Red Arrows and National Assembly draw 2-2 at Nkoloma stadium with the hosts scoring through Dan Siyuni and Stanley Banda while the visitors had goals from Mwape Mwelwa and Friday Kabubi to thank for the 1 point.
FOREST RANGERS 1- ROAN UNITED 1.
Forest Rangers were looking set to record their first win of the season via an Arthur Siwale own-goal in the 1st minute at Dola Hill in Ndola
However, Ben Mwanza made sure that was not going to happen with a 47th minute equalizer.
ZAMTEL 2- NAKAMBALA LEOPARDS 2.
Levy Chabala, like his successor Mtonga at Warriors, was looking set for the dream start in charge.
But that was not to be for the bottom placed Ndola club.
Giant midfielder Kondwani Chirambo put Zamtel ahead in the 39th minute only for Leopards to equalize in the 59th minute.
Ben Michelo put Zamtel back in the lead ten minutes from time bur ex-Roan United playmaker Kelvin Bweupe restored parity in the 89th minute to break Chabala’s heart.
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At least now we have proof that ZESCO ‘s lead on the Konkola-PL is not fluke.Go !!ZESCO GO!!ZANACO are still not believing that a year that is not yours you cannot jump it.Kalaba has shown alot of consistence this season. Good job young man.
Just goes to show that ZESCO is the power in your life eh !
Changa is still the team to watch for me this season as they have proved to be a resolved side and can take on any time comfortably
Go Zesco go!!beating zanaco “zambia B” at their home is the sweetiest victory we have had this season!!Go on boys and extend the lead.
CONGRATUALTIONS WEDSON, PLAYERS AND MANAGEMENT AT
ZESCO. THE SAYING THAT CHANGE IS IMPORTANT,
NECESSARY IS TRUE.WEDSON HAS JUST TRANSFORMED THE
CLUB.ITS GOOD FOR HIM AS HE WERE JUST ROTTING AT
ZANACO. BEATING ZANACO “CHELSEA OF ZAMBIA” AT HOME
IS NO MEAN ACHIEVEMENT,ONLY THE GIANTS OF NORTH
AFRICA CAN ACHIEVE THAT. AS FOR KALABA, ZULU AND
FRIENDS CONTINUE YOUR FROM. THIS SHOWS THAT
THIS SEASON IS COMPETITIVE.LUSAKA DYNAMOS TOO SHOULD
BE CONGRATULATED FOR SHOWING CONSTISTENCY.
CONGRATULATIONS ZESCOLO, SWITCH OFF ALL THE CLUBS
THAT COME YOUR WAY !
Zesco is showing signs of being crowned champions this season but if they have to win it they have to maintain consistency and they should sign more players during the window period to give depth to the team.
Otherwise they are doing fine for a cooperbelt team these days.
Invrest money and get a good coach and the right players, you will achieve success in football.
its high time we see a change in the leadership of zambian football. it doesnt mean dat if you are Zanaco and you sleep in money, that you should put every one under pressure.go…zesco..go go Zesco. Same with Chealse am happy that they have been grabed off the title…As for Eto, Ronaldinho,Messi and the whole Barca team i say ‘merci’for thumping sturbon Atletical Madrid 6-0.what an away win..amazing.Thats why you are more than a club.go boyz
its good that new teams like Zesco are coming up very well.On the other hand its a pity to learn that our under 20 national team performed badly in the on going cup in Netherlands. what should we expect from canada if we can loose 5-0,4-0 respectively to youth teams like fernord????