Zesco United sealed second spot at the half-way mark of the CAF Champions league group stage in Group A when they beat Ivory Coast side Asec Mimosa 3 – 1 at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.
Coach George Lwandamina restored captain Jacob Banda in goal who returned to action and he made a key save against Akri in the second half.
There were also changes in defense with Simon Silwimba starting ahead of Shemmy Mayembe who had a poor game in Morocco against Wydad Casablanca while Kondwani Mtonga dropped into central defense to cover for David Owino who was not available for selection. Silwimba had a solid game.
The Zambian champions dominated the entire match and were deserving winners on the day.
Zesco controlled the game from the start with John Chinga’ndu putting in another brilliant shift in attack while Chaila who will miss the next game after accumulating a second yellow anchored the midfield with ease.
Despite enjoying lots of possession, Zesco had to wait until the 32nd minute when Jackson Mwanza’s run was spotted by Anthony Agay who found the striker and Mwanza made no mistake from close range as he saw his shot come off the post for his first goal in the competition.
John Chingandu then got his goal when the goalkeeper misjudged his well taken free kick and failed to hold on to the ball with Bahn charging four minutes later.
After the break, Zesco continued to boss the game but seemed to have taken the foot off the pedal but the Ivorian were not hitting the target.
Mimosa captialized and pulled one back through Youssouf Dao who stabbed home after Ayo had cleared off the line in a congested box from a corner in the 75th minute.
Substitute Idriss Mbombo who replaced the goal scorer Mwanza immediately responded with a lone effort which saw his shot deflect off a defender for the ball to roll beyond the keeper.
Zesco now join Wydad Casablanca on six points while Asec Mimosa is on 3 points.
Casablanca play bottom placed Al Ahly this evening, the result of the game which may see Zesco United go top of the group on goal difference as they are behind Casablanca by 2 goals.
Zesco United next travel to Ivory Coast for the return match against Mimosa on 27th July, 2016.
Zesco United XI v ASEC Mimosa
Jacob Banda – Simon Silwimba, Ayo Oluwofeni, Ben Bahn, Kondwani Mtonga, Misheck Chaila, Anthony Agay, Clatous Chama, John Chingandu (Mwape Mwelwa), Jesse Were, Jackson Mwanza (Idriss Mbombo)
Congrats Zega,Ba lwandamina you are better off at ZESCO than with VIPOLOPOLO.
congrats Zesco. But the return match will be tough and Zesco should play a compact game.
Congrats ba magese malyiti power. just play an open game away and you will score again
Congrats to zesco I think this is a well deserved win
Well done Zega Watts n kudos to the technical bench. Lwandamina this is what you should have been doing with the Chipolopolo …..Picking up maximum points at home.
zescoooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!,am proud of u. Show them!!!
Al Ahly 0 WA Casablanca 0 60 mins played
71′ still nil nil Wydada and the fallen mighty Al Ahly
Wydad
15′ to go still nil all in Cairo
FT it ends nil all in the battle of the Mediterranean Al Ahly and Wydad. It means Wydad leads the table on 7 points with 3 goals scored and conceded nil goals. Zesco is second on 6 points with 6 goals scored and 5 goals conceded, Asec is third on 3 points with 3 goals scored and 5 goals conceded, the mighty Al Ahly has 1 point, scored 3 goals, conceded 5 goals. Zesco has to pick up points away, so far Asec and Wydad have each done so.
It looks like the team to pick up maximum points from is the fallen mighty Al Ahly.
The team that wins all its home matches qualify to the semi finals,so zesco united should win all its home games,in the remaining games zesco should correct 4 points in the remaining 3 games this will be enough to qualify them to the semi final
is it the same lwandamina?
Stumpy, Yes! Bcoz he has lots of time with the players and he has the leeway of selecting and fielding players. Unlike at national team we don’t know who selects players. Players are imposed on the coach and he has a few days to assess them.
I think the best team so far is Sundowns. They beat Zamalek 1-2 in Cairo. Am putting my money on Sundowns to win the trophy.
Ya sundown is playing beautiful football
besuma picks Highlands
July 18, 2016 | Filed under: Sports | Posted by: ZNBC
User
Collins Mbesuma
Zambia’s striker Collins Mbesuma says up to seven clubs were
interested in his services but he chose Highlands Park due to his
desire to remain in Johannesburg and the fact that he was offered
a three-year contract.
Kickoff reports that Mbesuma was the league’s top scorer last
season with 14 goals but was surprisingly let go by Mpumalanga
Black Aces who were then sold and reborn as Cape Town City.
Bloemfontein Celtic and Golden Arrows along with two in the DR
Congo were amongst the teams that raised a hand of interest but
then newly promoted Highlands Park charmed him with their
history and ambitions.
Having won the Golden Boot last season for the second time in his
career after initially taking it home 11 years ago the bulky forward
says he wants that award yet again next season.
Though Mbesuma carries a passport that says he was born on
February 3, 1984 he is actually a year younger.
A year was added on so that he could attain an identity document
and meet the minimum age of 16 that would then make him
eligible for registration for first team football at Roan United back
Good move.
Next time will see updates on this site is after 2weeks
hehehehehehehehehehehehehehe.@ after two weeks
Thanx to Zesco win over Asec Mimosa. But my worry is on Zesco fielding more foreigners in the team. Whats the benefit to the National team grooming at the end? As it is now Jesse Were the Kenyan is the leading goal scorer not a Zambian. Therefore it boils back to Zambia nation on national assignments. Take note of that at this point in time.
A draw will do away in ivory coast its zesco chipolopolo all the way.(zamfoot be jacked up).
Bs Zamfoot , please come out of the closet…too quiet bane!
Zamfoot has been sleeping no updates
Has Zambia Revenue Authority visited Zamfoot also????
Updates will come after 2weeks has notified earlier.