Power beat leaders Buffaloes to heal derby loss

by Staff Reporter

Friday Dec 17, 2021. 20:00

Power Dynamos on Friday made a strong recovery from last Sunday’s Kitwe derby defeat following a 2-1 home win over FAZ Super League leaders Green Buffaloes at Arthur Davies Stadium.

The result saw Buffaloes, who have set the pace in the first half of the season since Week 3, suffer their second successive league defeat and are now winless in their last five matches since posting a 2-1 home win over promoted Konkola Blades on November 20.

Since then, Buffaloes have collected just two points.

Meanwhile, Power’s win was a deserved response following a convincing 2-0 loss in the Kitwe derby on December 12 across the road to archfoes Nkana who halted their visitor’s five-match winning run and were also unbeaten in their last eight games.

All three goals on Friday came in the first half that saw Tiki Chiluba and a rare George Chisala goal handing Power the three points.

Chiluba slotted in the opening goal in the 22nd minute on the rebound after Buffaloes goalkeeper Fred Silwamba parried Power midfielder and captain Godfrey Ngwenya’s free-kick into his path.

But Buffaloes replied in the 37th minute through this season’s top scorer Friday Samu who headed in his 13 goal of the campaign.

However, the contest was decided on the stroke of halftime when Chisala fired in a long-range shot to hand Power the valuable three points.

Power are fifth after the victory on 25 points tied with Nkana who are at number four and are five points behind Buffaloes after seventeen games played.

The good news is Buffaloes have still qualified for the 2022 ABSA Cup thanks to their top six finish at the halfway stage of the season.

However, Power and the other ABSA Cup top six contenders will have to wait for the final outcome of the remaining Week 17 games plus Zanaco and Zesco’s two and one black-log matches respectively that are expected to be concluded by January 29.