By NDINAWE SIMPELWE
at Nkana Stadium –
Nkana 4 Zanaco 2
NKANA showed their credentials of challenging for the title with an emphatic win over leaders Zanaco in a classic MTN/FAZ Super League week 24 in Kitwe to cut the bankers’ lead to five points.
It was a game where the hosts showed a lot of character and determination to carry the three points and had to survive a second half onslaught from the visitors.
Missing their talisman and Captain Ziyo Tembo, Zanaco struggled at the back with an overweight looking Gift Sakuwaha who failed to cope with the trickery of Nkana strikers Ronald ‘Sate Sate’ Kampamba and Walter Bwalya.
Nkana opened the scores in the 17th minute through a Kampamba header when he connected well from a Joseph Musonda free-kick.
Zanaco’s defence frailties were exposed in the 35th minute when a splitting pass by Simon Bwalya found Walter Bwalya who beat the advancing Toaster Nsabata to extend the lead.
But Zanaco showed that they would not go down without a fight when Rodrick Kabwe pulled one back with a cracker of a goal two minutes before the break,  save for Walter Bwalya’s header that restored the two goal advantage for Nkana at the stroke of half time from a  Donashano Malama cross.
On resumption, Zanaco looked more organised and took the game to Nkana and almost scored but were denied by the cross bar from a Fashion Sakala shot.
But in the 58th minute there was nothing to deny Isaac Chansa who made it 3-2 with a clinical finish.
Just as it all seemed like Zanaco would force a draw, Walter sealed the victory with a well taken shot to beat Nsabata at the near post as the visitors remain five points ahead of their hosts on 55 points.
Buffaloes 2 Dynamos 3
Relegation-fearing Lusaka Dynamos yesterday pulled off the biggest surprise of the season by taking this famous win over title chasing Green Buffaloes in a five-goal thriller at Independence stadium,
writes SHAMAOMA MUSONDA.
This drama filled match saw Buffaloes falling behind through a Luka Chamanga goal that clearly unsettled the home side but even after they levelled through Mumbi Mweene, Dynamos immediately restored their lead through Mutale Bwalya.
Drama then followed when Chipolopolo player Adrian Chama was sent off and was soon followed to the stands by Noel Mwandila, the club assistant coach, for arguing with the referee before Webster Muzaza made it three for the visitors and beyond Buffaloes reach.
Jack Chirwa got a goal back for Buffaloes but it was a little too late as they fell to a second straight defeat and remain stuck on 39 points as Dynamos moved to 25 points but still in relegation waters.
Napsa 1 Blackpool 0
Napsa Stars fight against the drop got an energy boost after collecting maximum points off troubled Mufulira Blackpool, who might as well start planning for life in Division One next season, YVONNE SAKALA writes from Sunset Stadium.
Alex Mambwe netted in the 16th minute to give Napsa a vital win, their second in three games to move them to 25 points to hover barely above the relegation zone.
Nakambala 1 Tigers 1
In Mazabuka, relegation threatened Lusaka Tigers battled from a goal down to force a draw away at Nakambala Leopards but still remained second from bottom on 21 points, reports JIM FIKOLOMA.
Moses Siyanda gave Nakambala the lead in the ninth minute after heading home a Vernacious Maphande cross leaving Tigers keeper Bob Kasua flat footed.
But Tigers levelled scores in the 79th minute from the spot after Nakambala keeper Moses Mapulanga fouled Malela Sapu leaving Kabwe based referee Kennedy Chimense with no option but to award the
penalty. Nakambala have 29 points.
Arrows 1 Nkwazi 1
Striker Festus Mbewe scored early in the second half to stop a two-match losing streak for Red Arrows in this drab Week-24 league match played at Nkoloma stadium in Lusaka.
After falling behind to a Stephen Chikandiwa strike on nine minutes, Arrows sensed another defeat as Nkwazi, also on a miserable run of defeats and draws, surged forward trying to kill off the match.
But Mbewe scored in the 57th minute to ensure these troubled sides shared the points as the Zambia Air Force (ZAF) side stayed in seventh place with 30 points, three more than the Zambia Police outfit.
Lumwana 0 Warriors 0
Lumwana Radiants drew their ninth game of the season after they battled to a goalless draw against visiting Kabwe Warriors with both teams missing numerous chances in front of the goal, reports RONALD CHAWE.
The draw pushed Lumwana to 24 points while Warriors moved to 35 points.