Zanaco Ladies and Green Buffaloes Women shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw, while YASA Queens produced an impressive second-half performance to thrash The Elite Ladies 6-2 in the ZPL Women’s Super League Transitional Season Southern Zone.
The results saw Zanaco Ladies maintain their position at the summit of the Southern Zone standings, level on 16 points with second-placed Green Buffaloes after six matches.
Both sides have won five matches and drawn once, but Zanaco lead the standings on goal difference, having scored 16 goals and conceded one, compared to Buffaloes’ 16 scored and three conceded.
At the top-of-the-table meeting, Regina Chanda gave Zanaco the lead shortly after the restart with a superb volley in the 47th minute after Green Buffaloes failed to clear their lines.
However, veteran forward Rachel Nachula came off the bench to rescue a point for the defending contenders, producing a brilliant finish from inside the penalty area in the 78th minute to restore parity.
The draw leaves both teams level on 16 points, with the battle for Southern Zone supremacy finely poised.
Meanwhile, YASA Queens staged an impressive comeback to register a commanding 6-2 victory over The Elite Ladies at Toyota Sports Arena.
The Elite Ladies initially looked on course for a positive result after Pervis Kangalangala broke the deadlock in the 24th minute.
However, the match took a dramatic turn in the 41st minute when goalkeeper Margaret Phiri was sent off for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity, leaving Elite Ladies to play the remainder of the contest with 10 players.
YASA capitalised on their numerical advantage after the break, with Adnelly Sakala heading home a Melissa Mataba cross in the 52nd minute to level matters.
Eunice Doreen Bwalya then converted a penalty in the 55th minute to put YASA Queens ahead before Luty Kamanga extended their advantage with a superb long-range free-kick in the 66th minute.
The Elite Ladies briefly threatened a response when Loveness Daka pulled one back in the 68th minute to make it 3-2.
However, Veronica Misozi Phiri took centre stage, completing a remarkable hat-trick with goals in the 76th, 82nd and 90th minutes to seal an emphatic victory for YASA Queens.
The result lifts YASA to 9 points, moving them into sixth place in the Southern Zone standings, while The Elite Ladies remain on 5th place with nine points after six matches.
At the bottom of the table, Luyando Sporting FC and ZISD FC remain in the relegation positions, with just one point each from six matches.
Zanaco Ladies and Green Buffaloes lead the race for the top two positions, with the Southern Zone competition continuing to take shape as the transitional season progresses.
