Champions Zesco United's poor form continues

by Staff Reporter

Sunday Dec 05, 2021. 19:00

Defending FAZ Super League champions Zesco United’s campaign continues to wobble and on Sunday blew away a one-nil lead to lose 2-1 at home to a resurgent Power Dynamos at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.

The result has left Zesco languishing in 9th place on 18 points from twelve matches played and are eleven points behind Green Buffaloes who have set the pace since the third week of the 2021/2022 season.

Zesco made a promising start and took the lead in the 5th minute when Spencer Sautu swiftly raced into the box leaving Raphael Makubuli sprawling on the deck in his wake before beating Power goalkeeper Sebastian Mwange.

However, that was to be Zesco’s most meaningful threat on Sunday afternoon.

Kennedy Musonda’s 19th minute shot marginally went wide of the near post from an acute angle after chesting the ball and shooting on the turn.

Three minutes later, Zesco goalkeeper Ian Otieno parried Musonda’s second attempt and in the 32nd minute kept out Power captain Godfrey Ngwenya’s free kick.

Power leveled matters after the break in the 66th minute through Fredrick Mulambia who had replaced ex-Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Mulenga Mukuka in the 46th minute.

Mulambia completed his brace in the 76th minute when he poked in Joshua Mutale’s corner to dispatch Zesco to their second loss in four games-and fourth overall for the campaign.

Power are at number five after the victory with 19 points from fourteen games after collecting their fourth straight league win as they continue their return from the dead.

The Kitwe side started the campaign bottom of the log but fortunes changed in early October under new coach Mwenya Chipepo who has won five games and lost one of his eight matches since his appointment two months ago.