ZANACO CASH IN
…as Green Eagles fly low in Choma
GREEN Eagles missed out on an opportunity to claim top position on the MTN/FAZ Super Division table after suffering a shocking 1-0 defeat to Zanaco in a rescheduled week-19 fixture at Independence Stadium in Choma.
A lone goal from striker Rodger Kola, who converted a penalty in the first half of the game gave Zanaco the much needed victory which propelled them to seventh on the 18-team Super Division table with 39-points.
The home loss was disappointing for Green Eagles coach Aggrey Chiyangi who described it as a painful defeat.
“It is painful, we really wanted to win this game but we conceded a penalty and there is nothing we can say about it. We can’t blame anyone, the players wanted to win the game but we have accepted the loss, it is part of the game. We have lost and we have to look forward,” Chiyangi said.
“We created so many chances but again the players couldn’t use those chances and we don’t know what happened, we cannot blame them but we just have to plan for our next game against Kansanshi Dynamos.”
Meanwhile, Zanaco coach Chris Kaunda who picked his first win following the 3-0 bashing by Nkana and a draw against Nkwazi on Sunday hailed his boys for maintaining discipline to beat Eagles at their base.
“This ground is a very difficult ground to play on and we have been struggling with fitness and some players are out of the team because of Covid-19 but luckily enough the players have remained disciplined and they are following whatever they are told to do as a result we got what we wanted,” Kaunda said.
Eagles had begun the game at Independence Stadium on a promising not and created numerous scoring opportunities but failed to find the back of the net.
The bankers punished Chiyangi’s boys in the 37th minute when top man Kola beat Eagles goal keeper Justin Munyika from the spot to give Zanaco the lead.
Eagles tried to get the equaliser through Spencer Sautiu who ballooned his effort off target in the 43rd minute as the first half ended 1-0 in favour of the visitors.
The second half saw Eagles dominating play but were unlucky as Zanaco goal keeper Racha Kola produced some decent saves to help the bankers emerge victorious after the final whistle.