Zesco United Caf African champions League dreams were dashed today after Kano Pillars of Nigeria rallied twice to beat the visiting side 3-2 in Kano in the two sides penultimate Group A game.
Pillars join Al Hilal of Sudan in the semifinals with match to spare after both sides attained an unassailable 10 points from five games played.
Zesco have five points from as many games played while El Merreikh are bottom on 2 points.
Zesco were on target in the first half twice through Lottie Phiri, though his second effort looked suspiciously offside to give his side a 2-1 lead in-between a 4th minute Pillars goal.
Pillars pushed Zesco for most parts of the game rattling Zesco’s shaky defence and should be thankful for some good goalkeeping by Charles Chansa.
The Nigerians were rewarded for their more attacking ingenuity when Moses Ogaga came on to equalize on 56 minutes with a header.
Midfielder Alhaj Mohammed made sure for Pillars passage to Octobers semifinals after finishing off on the rebound a long-range shot that Chansa had parried.
Zesco were later reduced to 10 men after defender Kunda Mushota received his second yellow card four minutes into time added-on of the 90 minutes to sum-up the visit.
[standings league_id=14 template=extend logo=false]
Well done dispite of a loss.. thats part of the game.
Bravo zesco,the game was all yours bt u blow it away.wat happened?load shedding,i guess.try next season,concetrate on getting zanaco off the top nw
Too bad for Southern Africa teams – Zesco and Monomotapa
u can do better if your sponsors stop load shedding. Too bad u lost the game
Hard luck Zesco, you tried your best.
Hats off to Zesco for carrying the Zambian flag high and low. Once a Zambian always a Zambian. Go Zambia and Go Zesco. I hope you can win the last game next week against Al Hilal as a consolation in order to your $US 500 000. (K2.3 Billion)
What? Did any of you people watch this game?? Zesco could have won this game easily, but they let themselves down. All comes down to the usual inferioity complex we zambians suffer from as a whole. They were in charge of the game and blew it away! How do you lead twice and end up losing the game? No excuses please, we have had enough! Zesco were simply not good enough and do not deserve any kind words. There is lucrative funds in the latter stages of this competition. That’s what drives the other teams. Why can’t we do the same? We just wanna survive on hand-outs as always?! It’s time the local teams pulled their socks up and improve on their continental performances. If our clubs play well, maybe even our national team could also improve. Work harder next time!
Well done and better luck next year Zesco… is what i would have said. I can not put it that way cos first they could have done better by having a better passion for a win each and every time they played. second, luck yes but we should count more on better strategies including this exodus of key players in the dying minutes of a competition. just how do you surrender key players two crucial games away from the more beneficial stage of the competition… next year Zesco.. more hunger and no exits for players until the competition is done… yes you can pay them better to keep em..
Sad for Zesco. They have done us proud despite the loss. As you they get into the Confederation Cup, the team must use its experience to do better. Bravo!!!!
oops that second sentence was to read ‘As they get…………’ ignore the confusing word. sorry.
Zesco management made a tactical blunder by releasing Jonas Sakuwaha to A French team,the should have waited after playing all the games at group stage. A combination of Jonas and Loti would have made a big difference. That HH guy is a suspect in Zesco’s defence. This also goes to National team. Our soccer seems to be going down. Whats the cure?
ZESCO was a big let down. The played without a conviction to win. The Nigerians were so determined to win and you could see it on each one of their players. ZESCO players were too casual, slow and sloppy on the ball. It was as if ZESCO were playing a KCM league match. If ZESCO had applied themselves a little bit more, they would have won that match. At the end of the day Kano Pillars were indeed the best team of the day and the desrved to win going by their massive input into the match.
it was foolish for zesco to lose such a game.they would have continued playing the way they played in the first half but relaxed as ussual.hard luck guys next time .