Zesco United Register First Win Of 2020

Zambia Super League giants Zesco United recorded their first win of the year with a 2-1 victory over Buildcon at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium on Wednesday.

The start of the match saw United controlling the flow of play, but they struggled to really create any decent openings in front of goal.

Buildcon, on the other hand, couldn’t hold onto the ball for a sustained period of play and never really threatened the Team Ya Ziko goal.

Zesco’s first decent chance of the half fell to Adrian Chama in the 16th minute when Mwila Phiri cleverly slipped him through on goal, but his timid 14-yard shot was well saved by Abouba Bashunga.

Buildcon’s only decent effort came in the 19th minute, and it was their first shot on goal when Najeeb Abbas saw his 30-yard grass-cutter superbly touched around the post by a diving Jacob Banda.

Three minutes to the half-hour mark, Zesco made their dominance count when David Owino sent a cross into the area, but in an attempt to clear the ball Diego Apanane sent the ball into his own net.

The start of the second 45 saw Zesco continue to dictate matters and Rusike Tafadza should have scored their third in the 52nd minute when he hit the woodwork from 14 yards out under no pressure and with an empty net at his mercy.

The match was then briefly stopped for some minutes after a swarm of bees invaded the pitch.

Buildcon made the game’s first substitution in the second half when Shamujompa replaced Zambian international Joel Ngodzo after 51 minutes.

Moments later, Zesco scored a second through Kalengos powerful diving header after Mwila Phiris fantastic cross.

Buildcon tried to mount a comeback and did manage to pull a goal back in the 82^nd minute when a smart ball over the top from Kamalu Jafaru saw Mpho Mathekgane through on goal and he made no mistake from six-yards out, controlling beautifully and slotting into the far corner, bringing the score to 2-1.

That set up an exciting final 10 minutes, but the Team Ya Ziko managed to hold on to register their first win this year.