Champions Zesco suffer 5th loss of the season

by Staff Reporter

Wednesday Dec 15, 2021. 20:00

Defending FAZ Super League champions Zesco United inconsistent form continued on Wednesday following a 2-1 home loss to Red Arrows at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.

The result saw Zesco suffer their fifth league defeat of the season from fifteen games played.

Wednesday’s defeat also saw Zesco fail to return to second spot after briefly warming that seat last Saturday for Green Eagles who reclaimed it 24 hours later.

Arrows took a two-nil half-time lead through an Adrian Chama own-goal while Ricky Banda added the second goal.

Chama turned the ball into his own net after failing to deal with Arrows attacker Saddam Phiri’s cross in the 22nd minute

It took another two minutes for Banda to find the target and took his tally to 5 goals this season.

The goals came after the woodwork had earlier denied Arrows the lead twice starting with Banda’s 1st minute shot that came off the post.

Seventeen minutes later, Allasane Diarra was also denied by the post.

It took until the 57th minute for Zesco to get a consolation goal when Kelvin Mubanga slotted in an assist from Spencer Sautu.

Sautu had a great chance to get the point for Zesco in the 59th minute but Arrows goalkeeper Charles Kalumba gathered his attempt.

Kalumba was Arrows’ hero again just after the hour-mark denying Mubanga and then John Chingandu on the rebound as the visitors matched on to end a five-match winless run against Zesco.

Arrows came into the match after losing their last four meetings plus a draw since beating Zesco 1-0 away in Ndola in October 2018.

Meanwhile, Arrows jumped from seventh to third on 26 points, displacing Nkana to fourth on 26 and 25 points respectively and are now four points behind leaders Green Buffaloes.

Zesco are fifth on 24 points from 15 games and just like Arrows have a game in hand.