By Kalumiana Kalumiana at Garden Park –
Kitwe 1-1 Nkwazi
TEN-MAN Kitwe United yesterday missed an opportunity to move into the top-four bracket after allowing Nkwazi to snatch a late first-half goal and eventually share points.
“We were prepared for a win but we unfortunately have to settle for a draw but also, we missed a lot of chances,” United coach Stephen Mwansa said after the game.
A win would have seen them join second placed Zesco United and third placed neighbours Power Dynamos tied on 13 points.
Nkwazi meanwhile are 12th with seven points from four draws and a win off their six matches.
United made a bright start when they took an eighth minute lead through Rogers Mukenge, who headed in Robin Siame’s corner and from then on, the home side dominated Nkwazi.
But Nkwazi equalised in the 44th minute through a Sebastian Mwansa free-kick to deny United the prospect of a third successive league win.
Meanwhile, United later had defender Levy Makungu sent-off in the 88th minute for a second booking during a late 15 minutes that Nkwazi had the hosts on the back foot.
KYSA 1-1 Rangers
Kabwe Youth Soccer Academy (KYSA) yesterday picked up their secondpoint of the campaign with a late equaliser seeing KYSA snatch a point in a game that was full of controversies from Mazabukabased referee Emmanuel Njoro reports Sylvester Mwalefrom Godfrey Chitalu Stadium.
The encounter started on a sour note after a clash of colour in outfit with duly asked to change their jersey after theyemerged from their dressing room in their traditional yellow home team’s colour.
On the pitch, after a barren first-half which had few incidences,Rangers attacked the home side putting KYSA goalkeeper HavesonChingambu the busier employee on the pitch.
Just when everyone in the stadium had resigned to another draw for thenew entrants to the FAZ Premier Division, Rangers substitute Ben Chengoheaded in to put the visitors ahead while KYSA’s appeals for offsidegot turned down by Njoro.
However, the Mazabuka referee was on the spotlight again within threeminutes later when he awarded a penalty to KYSA after Rangers goalkeeper Pascal Kasonde fouled Ian Sililo before Clifford Saidi steppedup to send the goalkeeper in wrong direction for an importantequaliser.