Power Dynamos this afternoon rallied to draw 2-2 with archrivals Zanaco at Arthur Davies stadium in Kitwe.
The comeback by shaky Power against the defending league champions produced a last 30 minutes spell from which if one can combine their entire home fixtures played so far, produced about their best football to date this season in half an hour.
However, it was not all plain sailing for Power who had to endure an opening 15 minutes of hell as Zanaco poured forward inspired by their captain Mumamba Numba.
Zanaco were 2-0 up within the opening quarter thanks again to a very obliging Power defence whose mood shifted from dodgy, to suspect, to utterly vapid, until midway through first half.
Winston Kalengo put Zanaco ahead stroking home the ball after sidestepping one of Powers’ culprit defenders Chris Kaoma in the 9th minute.
Numba added a second exactly five minutes later thumping in the ball from inside the area after squeezing past Kaoma and his fellow bungling defender Francis Kasonde.
But in the midst of Powers’ defensive mayhem in the opening quarter, the hosts had an earlier attempt to go ahead in the 8th minute wasted.
Midfielder Norman Muntahli rolled the ball into space for striker Simon Bwalya who failed to connect to tap-in in front of an inviting goalmouth with Zambia goalkeeper George Kolala nowhere in sight.
Powers’ bench owned-up for the poor defensive tactics by bringing on the highly talented central defender Terrence Mpundu who has been shunned all of this season since his move from demoted Kitwe United.
Mpundu, who replaced left-back Mathew Kalunga in the 38th minute, brought some much needed stability and fresh air to the backline after some poor displays by Kaoma and Kasonde.
Why Power have chosen to leave a quality defender like Mpundu on the bench who could walk into any starting line including that of Zanaco still remains a mystery and it took a game like today’s for them to think twice about his true worth.
Power meanwhile comeback begun just before the break as Zanaco begun to tire after a very high tempo start to the match when Isaac Lungu headed in the ball in the 41st minute.
A war on attrition then ensured after the break and Power almost leveled in the 65th minute through Lungu who found it easier to stumble on the ball than shoot at point-blank-range before Kolala made a brave grasp of the ball.
Zanaco too had one fine chance wasted shortly thereafter when Kalengo failed to connect with the ball when Power goalkeeper Evans Mwewa had rushed out of his goal to try and collect.
From then on Power matched their nemesis but still lacked any substance in midfield despite an improved performance through their wing-play.
But left-winger and new boy Kennedy Mudenda found himself a little overawed by today’s big-match temperament.
Much-heralded Zanaco and Zambia Under 20 midfielder Chisamba Lungu today also made his Arthur Davies debut coming on seven minutes after the hour-mark for Kelvin Kaindu.
And like Mudenda, it was a baptism to the in-your-face football characteristic of Power-Zanaco clashes that always dispense their fair share of hair-rising tackles-both high and low.
The game was leveled in the 89th minute when Kasonde powered in a header off Munthali’s corner-Powers’ third in quick succession in that period.
Lungu then went on to on record with the miss of the day, his second of the match, scuffing another sitter with Kolala divining the other way and the strikers’ ball going wide off a Bwalya assist.
Zanaco stay put in second place but move from 23 to 24 points, two less than leaders Zesco United, from twelve matches played.
Power stay rooted in 10th place on 14 points from eleven games with a match in hand and with the prospect of missing out on Coca Cola Cup cutoff come week 15.
And at Independence stadium in Lusaka, Green Buffaloes defeated Nakambala Leopards 1-0 thanks to 1st minute goal from Zambia call-up Morgan Hanjema who finished off a pass from Sebastian Mwansa.
TEAMS:
POWER: E.Mwewa, P.Mubanga, F.Kasonde, C.Kaoma. M. Kalunga (Sub: T.Mpundu 38″), N.Munthali, L.Mwale (Sub: L.Lungu 85″), K.Mudenda, S.Bwalya , J.Munkonje (Sub: E.Mukandawire 56″), I.Lungu.
Subs not used: K.Kalale, C.Mulenga.
ZANACO: G.Kolala, J.Musonda, E.Chisulo, K.Nkethani, V.Mangamu, M.Daka, J.Chileshe, K.Kaindu (Sub: C.Lungu 67″), M.Numba, I.Lwipa, W.Kalengo .
Subs not used: K.Mpunga, S.Mumbi, L.Lubinda, R.Musakanya.
Cautions: K.Nkethani (Zanaco).
Referee: K.Chisha.
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Zanacos days of dominance are seemingly comming to an end, Viva power viva cooperbelt teams were soccer originates belongs in Zambia.
Lelo ba Power na Zanaco, Twaisa ba Nkana FC. Kalampa, mwela weka weka!!
Zanaco F.C. have to pull up there socks otherwise this season is not going to be theirs, they just shine locally and international there fail.
soccer is a unifying factor in Zambia. Zanaco may be strangaling today but the fact is that they have shown us in the last 5 years that they are no pushovers at the local scene though they are very disappointing at the international scene. I was born and raised in Kitwe so automatically I’m a Nkana FC fan. I know next year when Kalampa bounces back in the premier league Zanaco will be no match at all and I see a situation whereby Nkana FC will grab all the cups. I know most people would ague with me but at the rate Nkana are playing they will be 5 times when they come back in the KCM premier league because they would want to shut up their critics. Ba Nkana mukaka!