29 Aug DYING MINUTES DENY MALEMBE A SECOND VICTORY
Forest Rangers on Saturday drew in the dying minutes of the game against Zanaco FC at Sunset Stadium in Lusaka.
In their last 2 encounters, Fole Malembe have proven to be a hard nut to crack for Zanaco having won both Home and Away fixtures last season.
As the game kicked off, it looked like a reputation of the previous two encounters, with Forest creating better scoring chances in the early minutes of the game.
Forest made the first attempt in the 10th minute, with Moyela Libamba’s shot narrowly missing the target. He got another opportunity from Chishimba’s brilliant pass but he failed to put it behind the net.
Minutes later, Zanaco threatened but Daniel Mutshinemu’s excellent save kept the game leveled.
Malembe kept pressuring the home side, this time through left back Apanane but his impressive cross had no one to make it count for a goal as it went past the goal mouth.
Lazarous Chishimba had a chance to get his second for Malembe this season but Siame’s full stretch cleared the danger.
At the break, two changes were made, Tiki Chiluba made his debut replacing Obed Masumboko and Eric Chomba for Felix Banda.
Few minutes into the game, Tiki had a chance to put Forest in the lead but his reaction was slow.
In the 52nd minute, Zanaco had a penalty cry but center referee looked the other way. But that didn’t stop Zanaco, as Christopher Muhango tried his luck with a long range shot that went inches wide.
At an hour mark, a cross from Moyela found Tiki being hacked by Lameck Siame in the box and the referee did not hesitate to point at the penalty spot. Full of experience, Quadri Kola made no mistake and the visitors took the lead.
5 minutes later, Charles Zulu’s cross went over Forest’s defense but Mutshinemu was equal to the task.
In 78th minute, Ian Balaka introduced defender Gerald Simusokwe for Quadri Kola to close the game and it all went according to plan until the 89th minute when Zanaco seized an opportunity for the equalizer through Isaac Shamujopa’s beautiful header from a corner.
During his post match reaction, Coach Ian Bakala said his team played well and had the opportunity to go home with the 3 points but they lost concentration in the last minute. He however, highlighted that his team is getting better with each game that comes.
His counterpart, Wedson Nyirenda said he was very happy with how his team displayed themselves in their first league game competing against a team that has played two consecutive games in a role.
Forest Rangers will be back in action at Levy Mwanawansa Stadium in week 3 on 3rd September as they host Red Arrows, with kick off scheduled at 15hrs Zambian time. The game will be live on World of Champions Supersport Channel 229
FOREST RANGERS WEEK 2 STARTING XI :
Daniel Mutshinemu , Leonard Makonga, Dieugo Apanane , Cedric Djeugoue (Captain) , Chitoshi Chinga , Jackson Chirwa , Obed Masumboko, Quadri Kola , Eric Chomba (45′), Tiki Chiluba (45′) Felix Banda, Gerald Simusokwe (78′), Moyela Libamba, Lazarous Chishimba.
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