NAPSA STORM SEMIS

Mon, 25 Sep 2017 09:44:28 +0000

…as Buffaloes, Kabwe Youth Soccer Academy kiss the dust

By Michael Miyoba

NAPSA Stars yesterday progressed to the semifinals of this year’s Barclays Cup tournament after beating Green Buffaloes 3-2 on post-match penalty shootouts in a lunch time quarterfinal fixture played yesterday at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka.

Buffaloes played the entire match leading 1-0 thanks to striker Lottie Phiri who had given Buffaloes the lead with his sublime shot on target.

After having missed a number of chances, NAPSA caretaker coach Linos Makwaza made a double substitution with Youremember Banda and Chitoshi Mukuma paving way for Mangani Phiri and Aaron Kabwe in the 63rd minute.

NAPSA’s search for an equalizer continued and were rewarded in the dying minute of the game when super substitute Phiri shocked the Army sponsored side with his well-executed goal to level the scores.

With the match having ended 1-all after 90 minutes, the semifinalist was to be decided on penalty shoot outs.

Buffaloes converted two out of five of their spot kicks while the pensioners converted three of their spot kicks to progress to the semifinals of the tournament.

The victory cheered NAPSA coach Makwaza who hailed his boys for beating Buffaloes.

“First I would like to congratulate the players. They worked extra hard like we expected. Buffaloes is not an easy team to beat,

“We could have won the game in the first half but we missed a lot of chances. What is important is that we are through to the semifinals and we will prepare well for the semifinal,” Makwaza said.

Meanwhile in the second quarter final fixture played at Nkoloma Stadium, big spenders Lusaka Dynamos beat FAZ Division one zone three representatives Kabwe Youth Soccer Academy 1-0 to progress to the semifinals of Zambia’s only club competition.

Striker Marvin Jere scored the only goal of the game in the 45th minute to send Patrick Phiri’s boys to the semifinals.

Lusaka Dynamos and NAPSA Stars will now join Zanaco who were granted automatic qualification after their opponents Power Dynamos withdrew from taking part in the K350 000 richer Barclays cup competition.

On Wednesday Zesco United and Kitwe United will do battle in the other quarterfinal fixture to be played at Nkana Stadium Kitwe.