By MICHAEL MIYOBA
SENSATIONAL Zanaco FC failed to live up to their sensational tag after they struggled to break Prison Leopards defence in yesterday’s week 23 fixture which ended goalless at President Stadium in Kabwe.
The “Bankers” were lucky to pick a point after the referee cancelled Junior Zulu’s two goals for Prison Leopards in the second half of the tightly contested fixture.
Zanaco had looked sharp in the early stages of the game and had their first attempt at goal in the second minute when striker Moses Phiri tried to beat goal keeper Patrick Chooma from a distance with an effort which went wide.
Prison Leopards first opportunity to break the deadlock came in the fourth minute when Landu Miete pounced on a loose ball before sending his attempt intended for the far post, wide.
Prison Leopards striker Junior Zulu almost punished Zanaco in the 22nd minute but saw his attempt from a distance going off target.
Zanaco goal keeper Charles Lawu came to the Bankers’ rescue a minute after the half hour mark when he punched Miete’s shot to give the home team a corner.
Zanaco’s left back Taonga Bwembya had a chance to give his team the lead from a free kick which he send wide before Boyd Musonda tried his luck with a shot which went wide ten minutes before the break.
In the second half, Prison Leopards Looked more dangerous and came close to scoring in the 55th minute through Conlyde Luchanga who fired his close range shot wide.
Prison Leopards had broken the deadlock ten minutes into the second half through Junior Zulu who was unlucky to see his goal ruled out for offside.
Zulu found the back of the net on the hour mark but his goal was cancelled again as he was judged to have been offside.
Zanaco coach Kelvin Kaindu made some tactical changes and introduced Obino Chisala for Erick Owusu while John Sikaumbwe and Kelvin Owusu came in for Chisamba Lungu and Boyd Musonda respectively.
The changes made little impact as Junior Zulu almost punished the Bankers with a late goal from a shot which was blocked for the two sides to settle for a draw which propelled Zanaco to ninth on the Super League table with 27 points while Prisons moved to eleventh with 25 points.
