ZESCO United Football Club Team Ya Ziko
Zambian League defending champions, ZESCO United yesterday put up a star performance to beat Buildcon 2-3 in the MTN Super League week 13 game played at the Levy Mwanawasa stadium, Ndola.
The final score line may not have mirrored the tempo with which the visitors responded to what has so far been a difficult start to the 2021/22 league season.
Before yesterdays game, ZESCO United had only managed to win once out of six matches, recording three draws, and losing twice.
With the aforementioned results still fresh on the minds of the players and the technical bench, ZESCO United Head coach Numba Mumamba expected nothing less than a victory.
ZESCO United’s victory against Buildcon was a brilliant team effort spearheaded by the club’s attacking midfielder, Kelvin Kampamba.
It was very clear from the onset that Buildcons back four were going to have a very long afternoon with Kampamba at the heart of destabilizing the hosts defense.
Buildcon were the first to test Ian Otieno with some mazing run into the ZESCO United penalty which saw Brian Mwila combining with Patrick Ngoma but the latter’s effort was blocked by Adrian Chama.
In the 5’ minute, Otieno pulled off a great save to stop Mwila from putting the hosts ahead with the latter finding himself face to face with the ZESCO United shot stopper.
ZESCO United controlled much of the initial stages of the game but could not manufacture a clear-cut chance on target.
Green Eagles striker, Spencer Sautu came close to putting the visitors ahead unfortunately Kampamba’s cross was too high for the former to initiate the perfect contact.
ZESCO United’s persistence continued with Kampamba leading the charge upfront to the detriment of Buildcon defenders.
It wasn’t surprising that in the 17’ minute ZESCO United took the lead with a sumptuous Kampamba free kick which ended at the back of the net.
Kampamba’s goal gave the visitors the impetus to drive further forward pinning the hosts in their own backyard.
Chanda Mukuka came close in the 24’ minute only for his weak shot to be saved by Mwale.
Samson Mkandawire’s marauding runs forward paid off when he found himself in the Buildcon penalty box before unlocking a powerful shot that left Mwale helpless.
At this stage of the game, ZESCO United faithful could smell a potential humiliating defeat for the hosts.
Mkandawires goal did not stop the visitors from pushing forward with Kampamba causing all the chaos whenever he was on the ball.
In the 33’ minute Kampamba led another charge towards the Buildcon penalty box only to be fouled by Weta Boleke for a penalty.
ZESCO United’s dependable penalty taker Chama twice stepped up to covert from the spot kick only for Mwale to save both attempts.
Mwale had initially saved Chama’s initial penalty only for the referee to call for a retake after the Buildcon goalkeeper was judged to have moved from his line before the spot kick was taken.
Buildcon’s rare goalscoring opportunity came in the 46’ minute when Kizito unleashed a ferocious shot that Otieno parried and later cleared by the defense.
If the first half was thrilling for the visitors, the second half proved more entertaining for the fans that trooped into the Levy Mwanawasa stadium.
ZESCO United started the second half determined to pile more misery on the hosts.
However, the game took a sudden twist when FAZ referee Kafuli awarded Buildcon a strange penalty after Chishimba was judged to have fouled Kizito in the ZESCO United penalty box.
Mwila stepped up to score from the spot giving the host their much-needed lifeline.
Buildcon’s goal gave ZESCO United the urge to seek a third goal with the hosts encouraged to seek an equalizer.
In the 89’ minute Chitiya Mususu scored ZESCO United’s third goal after being put through by Edward Lungu.
With 4’ minutes added to the close of the game, Patrick Ngoma provided a tense finish to the match with a great sumptuous header that went past Otieno.
Ngoma’s header however, could do very little to change the score line that ended up in the visitors favor.
Victory against Buildcon sees ZESCO United occupy 6th position on the log table with 18points, 10 behind league leaders Green Buffaloes who have played two games better than the champions.
Author: Desmond Katongo