REF ESCAPES LYNCHING
...as Zanaco stone ref after missing ABSA Cup
THERE was drama at Lusaka’s Sunset Stadium where Zanaco FC fans almost clobbered match officials who were accused of match fixing as Red Arrows veteran striker James Chamanga scored a brace which denied the Bankers from qualifying for the ABSA Cup.
Police officers dressed in their green uniforms could not stop frustrated Zanaco fans from stoning referee Michael Lialabi who handled the rescheduled Week-13 fixture as Red Arrows came from behind to beat the Bankers 2-1.
Zanaco needed to score four unanswered goals in the game which was characterised with intriguing box to box action to qualify for the lucrative ABSA Cup.
However, after going ahead thanks to Chisamba Lungu's long range strike, Zanaco gave up their lead to lose to the Airmen, forcing their fans to question some decisions made by the referee.
Arrows looked more dangeours in the first half and almost went ahead 16 minutes after kick off when striker Ricky Banda tried to catch goal keeper Charles Lawu with a long range shot which went wide.
Zanaco's first dangerous chance to break the deadlock came in the 17th minute through Roderick Kabwe's sublime free kick which was saved.
Zanaco were also lucky not to concede five minutes before the half hour mark after Lawu produced a fine save to deny Ricky Banda from finding the back of the net.
After several attempts, the Bankers finally broke the deadlock through Lungu who beat the goal keeper with a thunderous long range shot after benefitting from Moses Phiri’s assist.
Zanaco almost doubled their lead in the 31st minute through Kabwe who was unfortunate to see his effort being saved by Arrows.
Arrows finally grabbed the equaliser six minutes before the break through Chamanga.
Chamanga beat two markers before he unleashed a right foot curler into the top corner to put Arrows back into the game.
Arrows almost went ahead two minutes before the break but were unlucky as Lawu saved Kananga's low free kick from outside the 18-yard box as the first stanza ended 1-1.
It didn't take Arrows too long to grab their second goal in the second half as Chamanga showed his skill with another solo effort.
The former Chipolopolo striker beat his marker before unleashing an unstoppable shot in the 59th minute.
The Bankers tried to get a draw but could not break Arrow’s defence for the second time as the airmen held on.
The win propelled Arrows to second on the Super League table with 29 points, one point behind leaders Green Buffaloes.
Zanaco, who are Zambia's only envoys in the Caf Confederation Cup finished the first round of the Super League outside the top 10, seating 11th with 22 points.