ZESCO United Football Club Team Ya Ziko
Forget the tempo of the game, forget the style of play, forget the way the goal was scored. This was an important day, an important game and a massive result for the 2019/2020 FAZ/MTN Super League Champions, ZESCO United.
With only two games to go before the final closure of the FAZ/MTN Super League, ZESCO United today faced Lusaka Dynamos in a crucial away fixture which was billed as make-or-break for the eight-times Super League Champions.
Today, all eyes were fixed on the Champions as a lose or draw was going to spell doom on ZESCO United’s chances of finishing in the top four or returning the super league title.
With NAPSA Stars having gone top of the League table after convincingly beating Buildcon on Friday, and Nkana only playing their game against Red Arrows later in the day, ZESCO United players had their fate right in their own hands.
The stage was set for Lusaka Dynamos and ZESCO United in an early kick-off staged at Lusaka’s Nkoloma stadium.
It was Dynamos who were first off the blocks with versatile Congolese striker Chris Mugalu first to test ZESCO United goalkeeper, Ian Otieno with a long range effort that went over the bar.
In the 11 minute ZESCO United quickly responded through John Ching’andu whose effort from outside the penalty box went wide.
Lusaka Dynamos Mugalu was proving a thorn in the ZESCO United defense. In the 21 minute Mugalu yet again saw his effort on target go over the bar.
The best chance of the first half came in the 42 minute when Jesse Were headed over the bar after Simon Silwimba powered in a fantastic cross which only needed the Kenyan to guide on target.
The first half ended 0-0 with both sides failing to create clear cut chances on target. In the second half, ZESCO United were the more ambitious side.
Sensing the possibility of another disappointing draw or lose, the Champions took the fight to Dynamos. In the 62’ minute John Makwata, saw his well-timed header saved by Dynamos goalkeeper, Ndala Monga.
ZESCO United second half onslaught on Dynamos paid dividends in the 65’ minute when Poso Mayenga headed in his own net after Jesse Were’s powerful cross from the left wing.
Motivated by Mayenga’s own goal, Solomon Sakala was the next to test Ndala Monga with a powerful shot outside the penalty box which was well saved by the former.
ZESCO United held on to the lead until the final whistle. The win over Dynamos saw the champions momentarily occupy second position.
However, Nkana’s crucial 2-2 draw against Red Arrows later in the day saw ZESCO United drop to third a point behind the 12-times Super League Champions.
ZESCO United assistant coach Alfred Lupiya expressed happiness with the outcome of the game
“This is an important result for our team. We came here to collect maximum points and that’s what the boys have done. We were not in any form of pressure. Our focus was to deliver.
Our minds have already shifted to the last game against Red Arrows. We are going back home to prepare for this important fixture.”
Author: Desmond Katongo
It was a good and important result for the team and a great motivation going into the last game.
But we need to up our game arrows are known to be party spoillers
This is very disheartening . Throwing away a championship which was in our hands . Hope we have learnt a better lesson .
Let’s stop playing the defensive type of football just from the lineup’s you can read the strategy and putting our defence in undue pressure leading to conceeding silly goals.
Plz the best way to defend is to attack