Zanaco wallop Eagles
ZANACO Football Club began their campaign in the 2018 MTN/FAZ Super League on a positive not after humbling Green Eagles 2-0, thanks to striker, Martin Phiri and Isaak Chanda's second half goals in a week two fixture played yesterday at Sunset Stadium in Lusaka. Numba Mumamba's boys dominated play from the first whistle and could have gone ahead seven minutes after kickoff but were unfortunate as striker Phiri's shot on target was saved by Eagles stopper Robert Mwanza.
The bankers came close to finding the back of the net in the 15th minute of the game, but fast-paced winger, Charles Zulu shot wide. Twenty minutes into the first half, Eagles suffered a major setback when influential midfielder, Spencer Sautu, was withdrawn from the game after picking an injury.
Zanaco captain, Ziyo Tembo, also missed his chance to put the bankers ahead when he sent his sublime short off target, 28 minutes into the first half before Ernest Mbewe sent his shot wide with only the keeper to beat five minutes before the break.
The 2017 league runners-up maintained their dominance over Eagles in the second half and were rewarded when Phiri beat goalkeeper, Robert Mwanza, with a sublime header after being assisted by Zulu who beat his marker before making a cross which was dealt with by Phiri 18, minutes after the break.
Eagles tried to get the equaliser but couldn't succeed as strikers Venecious Mapande, Progress Kalenga and Langdon Mbewe sent their efforts off target. Veteran midfielder Isaac Chansa then punished Eagles and doubled Zanaco's lead after being assisted by winger Guily Manziba who easily went past a clumsy Eagles defence before setting up Chansa.
The win at Sunset Stadium pushed Zanaco to seventh on the log with three points behind leaders Power Dynamos who edged National Assembly 1-0 last Sunday at Woodlands Stadium in Lusaka.
Meanwhile, Eagles dropped to tenth on the log with three points, on par with Zanaco who have a better goal difference after their first loss of the season at Sunset Stadium.