PRISONS CAGE NKANA
...as Five-Star Power go fifth
NKANA FC's quest to qualify for the CAF Inter- club championships suffered a major setback following a 2-0 loss to Prison Leopards at Nkana Stadium in Kitwe.
The Kitwe giants needed a win to consolidate their stay on fourth position on the Super League table and enhance their chances of winning a 14th title after the league leaders Red Arrows were held 1-1 by Zanaco on Saturday.
Nkana struggled from the first whistle and conceded three minutes after kick off through defender Kondwani Chiboni who put the ball in the back of his own net to give Prison the lead.
Young Richard Ngoma could have levelled the scores a minute later when he was put through by striker Alex Ngonga before sending his effort wide.
Prison won a free kick at the edge of the centre circle in the Nkana half and Debrah Francis took the duties delivering a good cross into the Nkana box.
Striker Conlyde Luchanga set up Damiano Kola who tapped in from close range to give Prison Leopards a 2-0 lead on the halfhour mark.
Despite having dominated play, Nkana's efforts to bounce back proved futile as Prison Leopards picked a famous win and ended Nkana's dream of a 14th title.
Prison Leopards moved to 12th on the log with 39 points as Nkana maintained fourth position on 45 points.
Meanwhile, Power Dynamos moved to fifth on the Super League table after putting up a five-star performance in the 5-0 bashing of Indeni FC in an early kick off at Nkana Stadium.
Striker Brian Mwila opened his scoring account for Power with a brace as the Kitwe outfit bounced back from the painful 1-0 midweek defeat to Chambishi FC.
Power dominated with Mwila scoring two minutes after kick off when he slotted with ease a pass from midfielder Joshua Mutale.
Indeni could have levelled matters in the 10th minute when Ezilon Nkole's shot from close range was parried away by Power keeper Lawrence Mulenga.
Mwila doubled Power’s advantage after benefitting from a clumsy mistake from defenders Moses Soko and Lawrence Mweenga who were disorganised in defence.
Mwila could have grabbed his hat trick but chose to be unselfish five minutes before the half hour mark as he set up Musonda who grabbed Power’s third with an easy tap in.
Indeni, who were paying as the home team in Kitwe, continued to struggle and allowed a fourth goal in the 28th minute when Tiki Chiluba slotted home Joshua Mutale's defence splitting pass to end the first stanza 4-0.
In the second half, Power picked up from where the left it in the first stanza with Mulambia bagging their fifth goal.
The win propelled Power Dynamos to 42 points, while Indeni missed a chance to escape the relegation zone as they remained 15th on the log with 31 points.