15 May A BITTER DRAW FOR MALEMBE
National Heroes Stadium has been known to be a fortress for Napsa Stars this season but that wasn’t the case as they hosted Forest Rangers in a MTN Super League Week 33 encounter last Friday.
The Pensioners scored at death to force a 1-all draw against Forest.
Prior to this fixture both team were coming from loses, Napsa lost 1-0 against Nkana in Kitwe while Forest went down 2-0 at home to champions Power Dynamos.
The first half saw little goal mouth actions from both sides up until the 35th minute when Pinoki tasted Daniel Mutshinemu’s acrobatic skills forcing the keeper to make a crucial save.
Forest responded with a cross from Eric Chomba that hit the crossbar for the first half to end in a goaless stalemate.
Eighteen minutes into the first half, Malembe made their first change with Quadri Kola coming in for Lazarous Chishimba.
The home side however kept on attacking, a close range shot from Augustine Mulenga missed the target by inches and a few minutes later another shot from Felix Banda was saved by Mutshinemu on 70 minutes.
In search of the opener,Forest made a double substitution in the 77th minute introducing Gift Lukwesa and Shadreck Malambo for Chomba and Chitoshi Chinga respectively.
The substitutions resulted in Forest winning a corner in the 87th minute which was well taken by Cephas Mulombwa and headed in by Cameroonian skipper Cedric Djeugoue to register his first goal of the season.
But the celebrations were cut short a few minutes later when Napsa were given an indirect free kick due to alleged time wasting by Mutshinemu.
The free kick gave birth to a penalty that was awarded after Djeugoue was adjudged to have handled in the box.
Midfielder Dickson Chapa converted the resultant penalty in what was the the last kick of the game.
The dramatic second half ensured the team’s shared the spoils.
With a game to go before the season elspses,Forest are now sitting on 48 points and out of the race to play continental football.
Meanwhile,Forest’ focus this week will switch to Saturday’s ABSA Cup final against MUZA, who will be Zambia’s envoys in the CAF Confederation Cup next season.
MUZA attained qualification to play continental football for the first time in the history of the club after beating Zanaco 2-1 in Mazabuka last Saturday.
The ABSA Cup final is scheduled for the 20th May,2023 at National Heroes Stadium.
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