ZESCO United Football Club Team Ya Ziko
A 90’ minute debut goal from Enock Sakala ensured that ZESCO United avoided a third defeat of the season at the hands of Green Buffaloes in the FAZ/MTN Super League week six encounter played at the Levy Mwanawasa stadium yesterday.
The visitors took the lead in the 62’ minute of the second half through a brilliant long range strike from Jackson Chirwa leaving Ian Otieno with no chance.
At the interval of the first half, Chirwa failed to put Green Buffaloes ahead after he failed to convert from the spot kick, putting his effort over the bar.
ZESCO United started with Enock Sakala jnr, Winstone Kalengo and Jesse Were upfront while John Ching’andu, Kelvin Kampamba and Samuel Sikaonga controlled the midfield.
Simon Silwimba, Fackson Kampumbu, Marcel Kalonda, Clement Mwape, where at the heart of the defense.
Green Buffaloes were hoping to build on their recent winning run that saw them thrash current league champions, Nkana Football Club 5-0.
Last season, the Zambian Army sponsored side run away with a point when they visited the Levy Mwanawasa stadium.
The game started on a fiery pace and in the 8’ minute, Green Buffaloes were the first to test Ian Otieno through a Jack Chirwa long range strike but the ZESCO United shot stopper was equal to the task.
Making his second appearance in the ZESCO United colours, Enock Sakala was ready to show coach Numba Mumamba that he was ready to eat and play with the big boys of the Zambian game.
In the 10’ minute the young striker came agonisingly close but saw his effort go off target. Sakala was back again on target with a long range strike that was comfortably saved by Fred Silwamba.
Silwamba was again called into action in the 26’minute thwarting Kelvin Kampamba’s cross with his right fist.
Green Buffaloes answered ZESCO United’s questions with some mesmerizing counter attacking football engineered by their diminutive winger, Robin Siame.
In the 28’ Green Buffaloes strikers probed ZESCO United’s goalkeeper with a powerful shot that Otieno brilliantly saved.
It was end to end stuff with Sakala asking all the right questions for ZESCO United unfortunately for the young striker, Silwamba was in fine form.
At the end of the first half, Green Buffaloes were awarded a penalty after Clement Mwape was judged to have handled the ball in his own penalty box.
Up stepped the visitors captain, Chirwa who skied his effort over the bar ensuring that both teams ended the half goalless.
The second half began with ZESCO United going for the jugular in an effort to take an early lead. Both Were and Sakala came close in the 51’ minute and 60’ minute respectively only to be denied by an alert Silwamba.
Green Buffaloes responded in fashion with captain Jackson Chirwa firing the visitors in the lead with a 62’ minute heart stopping long range strike from outside the ZESCO United penalty box leaving Otieno helpless.
Wounded by the lead, ZESCO United counter-attacked with verve calling Silwamba into a double save, first with Kalengo’s initial shot and then Sakala’s attempt in 64’minute.
In the 72’ minute Mumamba decided to introduce 16-year-old Luwawa Kasoma, resting Kenyan striker, Were.
ZESCO United came close in the 85’minute to finding an equaliser through Kalengo whose effort at close range was saved by Silwamba.
In the 90’ minute, the hosts were looking at a possible second home defeat of the season having asked all the right questions the entire game.
Silwimba and Kasoma strung two passes together with the latter surging forward on the right wing before unleashing a beautiful cross that was headed in by Sakala beating Silwamba to give the former champions a deserved equaliser.
Yesterday’s draw leaves ZESCO United on 10th position with 8 points, two behind current league leaders Green Eagles.
The eight-times league champions will travel to Kitwe to face Kitwe United in a week seven FAZ/MTN league encounter.
Author: Desmond Katongo
