By MICHAEL MIYOBA
RED Arrows flew to second position on the MTN Zambia Super League table after coming from behind to beat Sensational Zanaco FC in an intriguing midlands derby played at Sunset Stadium in Lusaka.
Super sub Ciel Ebengo was the hero of the day for the Airmen as he scored a late winner as Arrows cut Zesco United’s lead at the top of the Super League table to three points.
After a goalless first half, Sensational Zanaco FC took the lead after captain Charles Zulu converted a penalty he had won when he was fouled inside the box seven minutes before the hour mark.
Arrows coach Chisi Mbewe reacted by making a tactical substitution in the 68th minute, introducing Antony Shipanuka for Ackim Mumba while Saddam Yusuf replaced Chamanga.
Yusuf came close to levelling matters for the Airmen as he set up Alassane Diarra who was unfortunate as his effort couldn’t bother the goal keeper.
Arrows finally grabbed the equaliser 10 minutes before the final whistle when he headed in Diarra’s cross.
Eight minutes before the final whistle, Mbewe introduced Ebengo for Edward Mwenya and it took the Congolese international just six minutes to make a difference as he slotted in Diarra’s second assist of the day as the Airmen snatched the three points.
“It is a very sweet victory for us as Red Arrows. We are going through a very tough moment as at now so this game was actually played with a lot of emotions and coming out with a victory like this is very sweet for us,” assistant coach Kalilo Kakonje said in an interview after the match.
Zanaco assistant coach Henry Banda attributed the defeat to lack of concentration in the last 10 minutes of the game.
The win in the midland’s derby escalated Arrows who are mourning committee member Lyson Simwanda who died on Saturday evening in a road traffic Acccident to 26 points, three points behind leaders Zesco United who are on 29 points.
Meanwhile, relegation threatened Nkana FC and Kansanshi Dynamos shared the spoils after a goalless draw at Nchanga Stadium in Chingola.
Nkana remain second from bottom with 13 points while Kansanshi Dynamos maintained 14th position with 16 points.
