• NAKAMBALA Leopard’s Bernard Simakwezi (left) fights for the ball with Humphrey Juma of National Assembly during the MTN-FAZ Premier Division League Week 17 match at Woodlands Stadium in Lusaka yesterday. The game ended in a 1-1 draw. Picture by STEPHEN KAPAMBWE.

By SHAMAOMA MUSONDA –

Eagles 0 Zanaco 2
ZANACO yesterday opened up a five-point lead at the top of the MTN Premier Division League table after blazing past Gree Eagles at their backyard in Choma.
Aggrey Chiyangi’s men went to Choma, played all the football and excelled where title rivals Zesco United, Nkana and Red Arrows failed to impress.
In a match played before a partisan noisy crowd, Zanaco struggled to get their game going as Eagles kept them on the backfoot and ensure a goalless score at half-time.
The 2012 Zambian league champions came back with a lot of purpose in the second half .
On 60 minutes, Roderick Kabwe silenced the home crowd when he gave Zanaco the lead, giving Eagles a real scare at their backyard.
Under-20 star Davy Daka confirmed Eagles’ fears by scoring in the 80th minute to ensure maximum points for Zanaco and a healthy lead at the helm of the log.
After completing a double of Eagles whom they thrashed 4-0 in the reverse fixture in Lusaka, Zanaco moved to 39 points, five ahead of Zesco who play Konkola Mine Police in Ndola today while Eagles dropped out of the top eight into ninth position.
Assembly 1 Nakambala 1
From Woodlands Stadium in Lusaka, National Assembly fought back from a goal down to salvage a draw from this exciting match against Nakambala Leopards.
Nakambala went ahead early in the game through Moses Sianda before Assembly leveled through captain Timothy Mbewe to see the Parliamentarians move to 22 points while the ‘sweet’ side from Mazabuka stayed in 11th position on 19 points.
Buffaloes 0 Rangers 0
Green Buffaloes battled to a virgin draw with Nchanga Rangers in a lunchtime kick-off at Woodlands Stadium.
Buffaloes seem to have put back the exciting flavour in their game but will need to work hard to find their scoring touch.
In this Week 17 fixture, Buffaloes played all the football but lacked the cutting edge in front of goal in this game that had both sides brandishing new mid-season acquisitions.
This draw means Bilton Musonda’s Buffaloes, with just one loss in five matches, are on 19 points, two behind Fighton Simukonda’s Rangers.
Playing today: Zesco United v Konkola Mine Police, Power Dynamos v Indeni, Red Arrows v Kabwe Warriors, Roan United v Napsa Stars.