Nkana back to winning ways

Nkana player Noel Phiri

Nkana beat Green Eagles 2-0 at home in Kitwe to recover from last weekend’s bashing at the hands of defending champions Zesco United.

Saturday’s win came seven days after Nkana were flattened 5-3 away by Zesco who rallied from two-one-down to stun the 12-time champions.

Meanwhile, Eagles almost took the lead via a own goal in the second minute when Nkana defender Hosea Simwanza’s clearance was palmed out by Scott Ngokane.

The visitors then spent most of the first half with nine men behind the ball but cracked before the opening half-hour mark when Nkana took the lead in the 27th minute through striker Walter Bwalya who sliced in a cross from Maybin Chishimba.

Bwalya almost added a second in the 45th minute but his shot on the turn after beating Eagles defender Tindi Mwanza flew past the far post to see Nkana take a 1-0 halftime lead.

Simon Bwalya scored the final goal in the 80th minute after slotting in a cheeky back-heel from Fred Tshimenga.

The win is also a big boost for Nkana ahead of next Saturdays big Kitwe derby date away to Power Dynamos who lost 1-0 away to Mufulira Wanderers in Mufulira.

Nkana rise one place up the table to 9th place on 28 points while Eagles stand still in eighth position after their five-match unbeaten run was ended by the Kitwe giants.