•SOCCER fans scamper for safety after police fired teargas to disperse fans who wanted to enter the stadium by force prior to yesterday’s MTN-FAZ Super League match between Zanaco and Nkana.

By SANDRA MWILA –

at Heroes Stadium
Zanaco 2 Nkana 0
ZANACO ended their first part to wrestle the title from Zesco United on a high after beating Nkana in an exciting match that was not short of drama to open up a nine point lead at the summit of the MTN-FAZ Super League table.
The bankers have 40 points with Nkana, who have suffered three defeats in five games, amazingly maintaining second slot on 31 points while champions Zesco, with four games in hand, have 28 points.
Prior to the kickoff, police had to fire teargas to disperse fans who wanted to force themselves into the stadium after rumour went round that entry for the match was free.
The match was temporarily halted in the 34th minute for about four minutes due to the teargas that found its way inside the stadium after police again fired to scatter the fans, who had become unruly outside the facility.
On the field of play, Zanaco started on a fast note in a search of that early goal with Fashion Sakala’s shot hitting the post with Nkana keeper Scot Ngokene well beaten in the fifth minute.
Simon Bwalya saw his attempt blocked by Fackson Kapumbu as Nkana come back into the game in the 31st minute while striker Walter Bwalya shot over the bar a minute later before his long range effort was saved by Toaster Nsabata in the 35th minute.
Aubrey Funga gave Zanaco the lead at the stroke of half time when he headed in a Kapumbu cross off an Aaron Katebe corner.
Nkana Coach Aggrey Chiyangi brought in Fred Tshimenga in place of Walter in search of an equaliser in the 50th minute and the substitute failed to repay the coach trust after heading off target a Donashano Malama cross in the 65th minute.
And Nkana were to be punished for those missed chances three minutes afterwards Sakala doubled Zanaco’s advantage and sealed the match after unleashing a cracker inside the box.
This was after an interchange of passes between Charles Zulu, Funga and Saith Sakala which caught the visitor’s defenders napping set up Sakala as Zanaco kicked off with a win at their new home venue.