Napsa Stars share spoils with Forest Rangers in a 4 goal thriller

NAPSA Stars this afternoon welcomed Forest Rangers in a rescheduled Match Week 6 of the 2020/21 MTN/FAZ Super League at Woodlands Stadium.

Both sides were going into this afternoon’s game coming from losses over the past weekend with the Pensioners losing 1-nil away to Lumwana Radiants while Forest Rangers succumbed to a 2-nil defeat at the hands of surprising log leaders Prisons Leopards.

However, spoils were shared in an entertaining 4-goal thriller. NAPSA Stars took the lead through one of their new signings from Zesco United Enock Sabamukama converting from the penalty spot just before half time break.

Five minutes after the break, Forest Rangers super substitute Amenu Moro pounced on a loose ball in the box that took a slight deflection in the NAPSA box to equalize for the visitors to make the score 1-1.

A few moments later, Doisy Soko who was introduced in the first half for the injured Emmanuel Mayuka put back the home side in the lead with a scorcher outside the 18-yard box in the 67th minutes leaving Forest Rangers goalkeeper Daniel Mutshimenu with no chance with a fine low long-range shot.

However, just after Forest’s appeal for a penalty spot was not considered in the dying moments of the game, Webster Muzaza had other ideas as he scored with a ferocious strike on the edge of the box in the 90th minute breaking the hearts of the Pensioners who played the closing stages of the match with a man down after Ghanaian international Daniel Adoko was sent off for a second bookable offense in the 82nd minutes.

After all, was done and dusted spoils were shared in a 4-goal thriller with a 2-2 scoreline which did not have any bearing in terms of movements on the log standings because NAPSA Stars are still stuck in the relegation Zone on 16th position with 12 points from 11 games played while Forest Rangers have also maintained the 5th position with 20 points from 12 games.

After the match, NAPSA Stars assistant coach Geoffrey Hamakwenda described the team’s 2-2 draw against Forest Rangers as unfortunate and attributes the result to lack of concentration from his players.

Speaking in a postmatch interview after the game, Hamakwenda said the team wanted maximum points but he was quick to say a draw was okay for them.

“We wanted the 3 points but there’s nothing we can do, we can’t change the results otherwise a point is better. We lost concentration in the dying minutes of the game and allowed Forest to equalize, otherwise, the performance was okay,” Said Hamakwenda.

Meanwhile, his opposite counterpart Owen Kaposa who is the assistant coach at Forest Rangers who was standing in for Coach Tenant Chilumba who was a bereavement was also happy with a point away from home but said the team is working on converting their chances.

“Today’s game was 50-50 but we fought hard by coming back twice in the game, so I feel we deserved a point.”

“Our ambition in this first round is to play ABSA Cup, so that’s why picking up a point away from home is very important for us but we want to work on the finishing part because we are creating chances but failing to convert them,” Kaposa added

NAPSA Star’s next game is a tricky home fixture against Indeni at Sunset Stadium while Forest Rangers will entertain Red Arrows in Ndola at The Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.