By KALUMIANA KALUMIANA
Rangers 0 Power 1-
POWER Dynamos picked up a fortunate away win over Nchanga Rangers at Konkola Stadium in Chililabombwe yesterday to remain unbeaten and maintain their lead at the top of the MTN/FAZ Premier Division League table.
The six-time champions moved from nine to 12 points after four games played, three more than second placed Zesco who also won with the same margin away on Saturday to Green Buffaloes.
Power started strongly in the opening 10 minutes with Kennedy Mudenda, Alex Ng’onga and Lubambo Musonda putting Rangers on the backfoot.
Tables turned in the 19th minutes but Rangers felt a little hard done-by when striker Patson Daka’s goal was disallowed for a marginal offside as the hosts slowly clawled back into the match.
A minute later, Ng’onga hit the crossbar while at the other end Bornwell Mwape swept his 26th minute scissors kick inches wide.
The tide then turned fully in Rangers’ favour and Power had goalkeeper Joshua Titima to thank twice in the latter ten minutes before the break.
Titima parried Mwape’s 37th minute shot that hit the woodwork before the Power goalkeeper saved the visitors blushes and again denied Daka in a similar situation when the latter’s awkward downward header came off the cross bar.
Respite for Power came dead on 45 minutes when Jimmy Ndhlovu blasted in the ball against the run of play after some good work from Mudenda to see him score his fifth goal of the season.
And just how valuable that goal was manifested in rare show of overflowing emotions by Power coach Tennant Chilumba who leapt and skipped around his technical area.
Chilumba was clearly relieved to see his side go into the break with the lead after his side was virtually on the ropes for the last 15 minutes of the first half.
Power came back from the break to again dictate play as they did in the first ten minutes of the first half before they switched to defensive mode after the hour mark.
But Power did have a chance in the 68th minute when Ng’onga failed to finish off a sitter on the far post after Ndhlovu pumped the ball in from the far right.
Ngonga then had another opportunity in the 81st minute saved by Toaster Nsabata after a rampaging run from the center circle.
Meanwhile, Power were the happier to hear the sweet sound of the final whistle after Nawa Nawa saw his header come off the post in the 89th minute and later missed a close range effort after picking a long ball from Michael Mwape.
And Rangers stay rooted in mid-table on six points after suffering their second successive league defeat on the back of a 3-1 away loss at Zesco on April 5.
Mine Police 2 Arrows 2
Konkola Mine Police recovered from their shock 6-nil loss on April 5 away to Power Dynamos to draw 2-2 at home yesterday with Red Arrows.
However, the hosts were forced to rally from 1-0 down in the first half at Konkola Stadium in Chililabombwe to snatch a point against Arrows.
Daniel Sibanda put Arrows ahead in the 14th minute and 20 minutes later Adubelo Phiri’s goal was ruled out for offside.
Andrew Tampwila equalised from the penalty spot in the 48th minute before his club mate Clement Mwape headed Mine Police into the lead in the 55th minute.
Phiri secured a point for Arrows from the penalty spot in the 64th minute after referee Jan Sikazwe awarded a dubious penalty that looked more like a ball to hand.
Arrows have moved one place up the table from eighth to seventh on six points from five games played while Mine Police rose from 11th to ninth place with four points from three matches with a match in hand.