By MICHAEL MIYOBA
RED Arrows climbed to third on the MTN/FAZ Super League table after beating defending champions Zesco United 2-1 in a rescheduled Week one fixture at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.
And own goal from Kamusoko and in-form striker Ricky Banda’s strike propelled Arrows winning streak to five straight wins which escalated the Airmen to 26 points while Zesco dropped to fifth with 24 points.
Arrows had started the clash of the titans on a positive note and had the first attack through Ricky Banda who hit the upright with his header in the first minute.
Zesco responded with a second minute attack led by Kenyan star Jesse Were who was unfortunate to see his shot saved by the goal keeper.
Zesco almost grabbed the lead in the third minute through Mubanga Kampamba who sent his effort wide before Spencer Sautu’s header which went over the bar in the fifth minute.
The Ndola giants were also unlucky nine minutes into the first stanza when John Chingandu headed the ball over the bar.
Saddam Yousuf almost punished Zesco in the 16th minute with a powerful long range shot which went over the bar.
Red Arrows finally went ahead through an own goal from Zimbabwean international Thaban Kamusoko who directed Yousuf’s effort into his own net.
Arrows doubled their advantage in the 24th minute through Ricky Banda who benefitted from Yousuf’s assist.
The two quick goals forced Zesco United coach to respond with a double substitution, replacing Chama for Solomon Sakala while Mukuka Chanda came in for the injured Kamusoko two minutes after the half hour mark.
Chingandu’s effort to pull one goal back saw goalkeeper Charles Kalumba producing a great save in the 39th minute before Kampamba’s long range shot which went slightly over the bar a minute before the break.
Zesco were able to get their consolation goal three minutes before the hour mark through Kampamba who unleashed a powerful shot to beat the goal keeper.
Sautu almost levelled the scores with his dangerous shot on the hour mark but the goal keeper pulled a decent save as the Airmen maintained their lead to hand Zesco their fifth defeat of the season.
Meanwhile, Kansanshi Dynamos came from behind to hold Zanaco to a 1-1 draw at Independence Stadium in Solwezi.
Midfielder Bruce Musakanya scored a second half penalty to cancel out Moses Phiri’s 30th minute goal for the two sides to share the points.
The point escalated Zanaco to 13th on the league table with 18 points while, Kansanshi moved to 11th with 20 points.
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