Leaders Napsa held, Zesco win

Jesse Were

Zesco United moved up to fourth on the MTN FAZ Super League standings following a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Konkola Blades in a Week 20 match played at the Nchanga Stadium on Sunday.

Jesse Jackson Were scored the lone goal – his eighth in the league and 13th in all competitions this season – after he converted a penalty which was awarded for a handball incident by Konkola Blades right-back Andrew Tembo in the 44th minute.

The victory moved Zlatko Krmpotic’s men to 32 points level with Lusaka Dynamos who dropped to fifth on goal difference, and five points adrift of leaders Napsa Stars who were held to a goalless draw at Nchanga Rangers.

It was Zesco United’s ninth league win from 16 matches. They have games in hand with Lumwana Radiants (A), Lusaka Dynamos (H), Power Dynamos (A) and Red Arrows (A).

And leaders Napsa Stars managed to come away with a point against Nchanga Rangers despite having their striker Youremember Banda being sent off in the first half. Banda was sent off for a late challenge on Charles Musangu.

Perhaps Napsa Stars were lucky because television replays showed that the two goals which were ruled out for offside in their favour should have stood. In both instances, in the 4th and 24th minutes, it was Napsa Stars defenders who had touches before Zikiru Adams fired home.

The draw saw Napsa Stars establish a four-point lead on Power Dynamos in second and Green Buffaloes in third who have played two matches and a match less respectively, while Nchanga Rangers rose by a single position to 15th, level on 18 points with Konkola Blades, who are below them on goal difference.

Napsa Stars’ next match is against Power Dynamos and will be played as an early kick-off of the double header scheduled for the Woodlands Stadium on Sunday, 6 August.