By NDINAWE SIMPELWE
At Levy Mwanawasa Stadium
Zesco 1-2 Zanaco –
ZANACO made a strong statement of intent ahead of the 2016 soccer season after coming from a goal down to beat rivals Zesco United to record the first win at the on-going four team preseason tournament in Ndola.
Saith Sakala, who joined the bankers this season, came off the bench to score his first goal for the team which proved decisive as it left the Zambian champions still without a win in the tournament after two games played.
After a scoreless first half, Zesco came into the second half searching for an opener when Idris Mbombo went down in the box from the challenge of Ziyo Tembo and Aaron Katebe.
Jesse Were stepped up and converted the spot kick for his second of the tournament after sending Toaster Nsabata the wrong way in the 54th minute.
Zanaco had to wait for 10 minutes before finding an equaliser after Rodrick Kabwe replicated his free kick from the first game guiding his set piece into the back of the net.
Both teams worked hard for a winner but were guilty of poor finishing much to the disappointment of the fans.
In the dying minutes of the game as Zesco was pushing hard for a goal, they were caught on counter attack orchestrated by Richard Kasonde through Augustine Mulenga and ended up young Saith Sakala rounding up the goalkeeper to seal the victory for Zanaco who are making it habit to beat their rivals at their own back yard.
Zanaco now has four points from two matches and will face Azam from Tanzania who beat Zimbabwe’s Chicken Inn 3-1 in the earlier kick off.
Zesco will face Chicken Inn in the other match on Tuesday.