By MOSES CHIMFWEMBE At Levy Mwanawasa Stadium –
Zesco 1 Kaloum 1
ZESCO United yesterday suffered a setback in their bid to progress to the second round of the 2015 CAF Champions League after being held at home by AS Kaloum of Guinea in the first round, first leg match in Ndola.
A stoppage-time goal by midfielder Justin Zulu saw Zesco salvage a draw in a match that was dominated by the visitors.
• ZESCO United striker, Winston Kalengo (right) in an aerial tussle with Guinea’s AS Kaloum captain, Ben Adamah during the CAF Champions League first round, first leg tie at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola yesterday. The game ended in a 1-1 draw. Picture by KASUMPA KATAPA
It was Zulu’s third goal in three consecutive CAF games, having scored two against Swaziland’s Mbabane Swallows in the preliminary of the competition.
With the return leg set for Bamako, Mali in two weeks, Zesco’s chances of progressing to the second round is down to mathematics with the Zambian champions needing to avoid a goalless draw that will see Kaloum through.
George ‘Chicken’ Lwandamina remained upbeat of guiding his team to the next round despite drawing at home.
“I am very happy with the boys, they played well despite drawing and we have learnt lessons that we have to correct during our training sessions,” Lwandamina said during a post match conference.
With Zesco seemingly heading for a loss, Zulu nodded in from substitute Maybin Mwaba’s free kick in additional time to restore parity for the home team much to the amusement of the fans.
Kaloum played with purpose from the first whistle and looked a better side in terms of physical battles as Zesco were relegated to playing long balls which proved ineffective.
Zesco’s defensive partnership of Kondwani Mtonga and Emmanuel Mathias was exposed as it looked shaky each time the Guineans were on the offensive.
An unmarked Ibrahima Soumah scored with a stunning header from a Mamadou Kouyate’s corner in the 58th minute to put the visitors in the driving seat after missing a flurry of chances in the first half.
The goal came minutes after Kouyate’s free kick was tipped over the bar by goalkeeper Jacob Banda.
Zesco were forced to endure some moments of frustrations with Kaloum resorting to delaying tactics in the last quarter of the game.
There was little to see from Zesco in the first half as they failed to break through the Kaloum defensive barricade marshaled by skipper Ben Adamah, leaving striker Winston Kalengo a silent figure upfront.
Kaloum’s striking duo of Soumah and Kouyate combined well as they kept asking questions on the Zesco defence.
Soumah came close to scoring an opener on six minutes but saw his header going wide off a Kouyate’s cross on the right flank.
Chiek Ballo also squandered a scoring opportunity in the 11th minute powered his header straight in the palms of Banda with no challenge from Zesco defenders.
Kaloum’s best scoring chance came through Congolese international Kabongo Kassongo, who fired his volley wide on 26 minutes from a Kouyate pass after Dauti Musekwa failed to clear the ball in the box.
Zesco upped their game in the second half and Kalengo forced a full stretch dive from goalkeeper Jomre Youssouf in the 46th minute and Clatous Chama’s 51st minute volley went over the bar.
Mwaba, who replaced injured Bornwell Silengo on 70 minutes, made an immediate impact in the midfield with his creative runs and accurate passes.
Kalengo’s 74th minute goal was disallowed for offside by Tanzanian referee Israel Mujumi and six minutes later, Mwaba’s shot was tipped over by goalkeeper Youssouf before Zulu scored in additional time to give Zesco a glimmer of hope ahead of the second leg in a fortnight.
