REVENGE IS A DISH SERVED COLD – FOREST’S FIRST LOSS AT DOLA HILL

09 May REVENGE IS A DISH SERVED COLD – FOREST’S FIRST LOSS AT DOLA HILL

About a month ago, Forest Rangers faced Power Dynamos in a highly anticipated ABSA Cup semi-final at Arthur Davies Stadium and after 90 minutes it was the Ndola side that triumphed to book a ticket to their maiden final.

Forest busted into wild celebration after the final whistle in Kitwe after reaching the competition’s final for the first time in their history.

Fast forward to last weekend, it was time for the reverse fixture but this time in a different competition and venue.

Power only needed a point to be crowned Super League champions instead they got maximum points and the same party Forest threw at Arthur Davies was on display from the visitors at Dola Hill Ground.

The Kitwe side beat Forest 2-0 to hand the latter their first home loss since returning to Dola Hill three months ago.

Forest started the match with real intent with Bornwell Mwape free kick testing Lawrence Mulenga while Moro Amenu delayed to pull the trigger as Power cleared the danger.

Against the run of play, Frederick Mulambia punished the home side with a clinical finish.

In that moment, both players and the fans everywhere had a deva ju moment, seeing that it was Mulambia that actually scored the opener in the seventh minute in the ABSA Cup semi-final before Forest rallied to carry the day in the second half.

But that wasn’t the case this time around, the script was different.

In the second half, Forest pushed for the equalizer but it was Power that got the second through Owen Tembo, who unleashed a powerful low shot beyond the reach of keeper Daniel Mutshinemu.

Before that Forest stand-in coach Kennedy Kashobondo introduced veteran Clifford Mulenga but before he could stamp authority on the game Power stretched their lead.

In search of the two goals, Kashobondo made a double substitution resting Moro Amenu and Lazarous Chishimba for debutant Ghanaian Michael Sarpong and Monday Bwalya but goals still eluded Forest.

“It was a very painful loss and what we planned is not what happened, but I think we were the better side it’s just that football has three results and this time we got a loss. Power Dynamos are a very good team and being on top is not joke so we knew coming up against wasn’t going to be easy,” Kashobondo told reporters in the aftermath of the defeat.

Dropping three points at home meant that Forest slipped to seventh on the log from fourth with 47 points, three shy of the continental slot.

Forest’ next game will be against fellow continental chasers Napsa Stars at National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka this weekend.