By ADRIAN MWANZA at Nkoloma Stadium –
Buffaloes 2 Real Nakonde 0
GREEN Buffaloes coach Bilton Musonda was left relieved after overseeing a straight forward win that kept his side five-points clear of the chasing pack in the MTN-FAZ Super League.
The Zambia Army side netted twice in the first half of the lunchtime kick-off against a relegation fighting Muchinga side courtesy of goals from Sebastian Mwansa and Friday Samu.
Mwansa gave Buffaloes the lead in the 15th minute when he tapped in a Mike Katiba cross before Samu made sure of the result in the 37th minute.
“This win means a lot for us especially that we are coming from two straight defeats. But the players have to remain focussed in order for us to achieve our goal. Competition is still tight right now,” he said.
Buffaloes moved to 56 points, three better than Lusaka Dynamos, who won away at Nkana, as Power Dynamos and Zanaco, both on 51 points, dropped points in the title race.
Zanaco 1 Napsa 1
ZANACO coach Numba Mumamba was left disappointed after he watched his side held to a draw by Napsa Stars at Sunset Stadium, reports SANDRA MWILA.
Zanaco dropped to fourth place with 51 points while title chasing Napsa hopes suffered a setback as they plunged into ninth position with 44 points.
This match came alive in the dying minutes of the game with Zanaco first to score in the 87th minute through a penalty converted by Felix Nyaende which was awarded by referee Michael Lyabaila after Dickson Chapa handled inside the box.
Zanaco’s celebration was short lived as Napsa snatch a point at the death of the game with a penalty.
George Chilufya brought down Collins Sikombe inside the box and Lyabaila pointed to the spot with Alex Mwamba scoring from the resultant kick.
“It’s very disappointing to draw in such a manner but we shall focus on our Wednesday game against City of Lusaka to narrow the gap with Green Buffaloes,” Mumamba said.
Nkana 0 Dynamos 1
NKANA warmed-up for the big Kitwe derby set for this weekend with a stinging home loss to fellow title contenders Dynamos.
Going into the game hoping to close in on the leaders, Nkana were dealt a psychological blow to their title aspirations as they now fall seven points off the pace with eight games left in the season in contrast to their visitors.
This was all thanks to league leading scorer Chris Mugalu for striking the lone goal in the 13th minute off Clatous Chama who benefitted from a poor Diego Apanane ill-timed back-pass.
Nchanga 1 Power 1
NCHANGA Rangers coach Evans Sakala three-match ultimatum ended yesterday with a home draw against Power Dynamos, writes KALUMIANA KALUMIANA from Nchanga Stadium in Chingola.
The draw was Sakala’s only point during the ultimatum after two straight defeats to Lusaka Dynamos and Kabwe Warriors.
Adams Zikiru converted a 52nd minute penalty after he tumbled to a tame Lawrence Chungu foul in a match Nchanga enjoyed the lion’s share of chances.
But Power snatched a late equaliser in the 82nd minute through Michael Banda who fired in a superb volley from the edge of the box after replacing Kennedy Mudenda in the 70th minute.
City 1 Lumwana 4
IN the second match played at Nkoloma Stadium, Lumwana Radiants impressive form continued as the 10-man side crushed bottom placed City of Lusaka to move to seventh position on 48 points.
Lumwana opened the floodgate in the 47th minute when Josephat Kasusu beat City keeper Gift Ngwira with a powerful shot before City defender Rolly Tshibuingidi scored an own goal after heading in a Ones Masumbuko free kick in the 58th minute.
City pulled one back two minutes later through a penalty scored by Ismail Dunga after Sadamu Yusuf was hacked by Chanda Mushili and referee Julius Kangwa pointed to the spot.
Kasusu scored his brace in the 72nd minute after he beat an offside trap and chipped the ball over Ngwira. Eddie Sinyangwe scored Radiants fourth after keeper Ngwira parried Kasusu’s strike in his path allowing him to slot the ball into an empty net.
It was a bad end for Kasusu, who got a straight red card for a bad tackle on Richard Phiri in the 84th minute. City is on 12 points.
Eagles 2 Arrows 2
FROM Independence Stadium in Choma, Green Eagles twice came from behind to frustrate Red Arrows.
Honour Janza’s Red Arrows first went ahead in the 15th minute from a Bruce Musakanya goal but saw that strike cancelled out two minutes before the break by Warren Kunda.
Lubinda Mundia restored the visitor’s lead with a 70th minute goal but former international Mwila Phiri stole a point for Aggrey Chiyangi’s side 10 minutes later.  Arrows stay 11th on 41 points, six better than 13th placed Eagles.
Wanderers 1Forest 1
‘MIGHTY’ Mufulira Wanderers kept their head just above the troubled waters as they snatched a point from a determined Ndola side in an exciting game at Shinde Stadium.
Arafat Ilongo put the visitors ahead in the 65th minute but Rahim Osumani leveled for Wanderers 10 minutes from time while Webster Muzaza goal in the referee’s added time  was called back for off side.
Wanderers stay a position above the relegation zone on 28 points, just one off the drop zone while Forest are 12th with 39 points.
Nakambala 1 Nkwazi 1
FROM Mazabuka, JIM FIKOLOMA reports that Nkwazi failed to hold on to a Keagan Phiri sixth minute strike as Nakambala fought for a vital draw to help them move slightly from the relegation waters.
Nkwazi moved to 42 points while Nakambala are on 35 points thanks to Roy Sakwanda, who finished off a Lameck Silwaba’s rebound after Makasa Kalaba had blocked the initial shot.