Nkana go third after derby victory

by Staff Reporter

Sunday Dec 12, 2021. 20:47

Nkana on Sunday convincingly beat Power Dynamos 2-0 in the big Kitwe derby.

The reward for the home win at Nkana Stadium was third place on the FAZ Super League table where they sit on 25 points and are now just five points behind leaders Green Buffaloes.

Nkana are also two points adrift of second placed Green Eagles in a tight top five bracket after the penultimate round of matches in the first half of the season.

It took just five minutes after kick off for Nkana to take the lead when Power defender Paul Banda’s debut derby turned into a nightmare when he scored an own-goal.

Nkana then had an 8th minute goal by Oliver Lumbiya ruled out for offside to sadly dash the Zambia U23 midfielders dreams of a first-ever derby goal.

Furthermore, Nkana striker and captain Alex Ngonga was inspired form against his former club Power whom he dumped last season after being frozen out of their plans.

Ngonga didn’t score but provided the assist for Gilroy Chimwemwe to volley in the final goal in the 70th minute.

The second goal also summed up Power goalkeeper Sebastian Mwange’s forgettable day who looked unsettled throughout as he too made his debut derby.

Power have dropped from 3rd to 9th after the defeat on 22 points after seeing their five-match winning run halted by Nkana.

Meanwhile, Eagles continued to consolidate their top two status with a 2-0 home win over Prison Leopards thanks to a Hosea Silwimba brace in the 71st and 79th minute.

Elsewhere, last seasons runner-up Zanaco lost 1-0 away to struggling Indeni in Ndola where Cephas Handavu’s 11th minute goal settled the contest.

Red Arrows won the road at bottom placed Chambishi through goals by Ricky Banda in the 68th minute and Alidor Kayembe in the 88th minute.