Silva sent off on Mighty debut after draw with Zesco

New Mighty Mufulira Wanderers Portuguese -born coach Paulo Silva began his debut on a dramatic note when was sent to the stands in his sides to a 1-1 away draw at Zesco United.

Silva was sent off in stoppage time of the first half after Zesco had equalized as he felt the pressure of jumping straight into the fire with a date against the defending FAZ Super Division champions at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Wanderers took the lead in the 4th minute through Rahim Osumanu who headed in Mike Katimba’s cross following an early wave by Mighty.

However, Zesco quickly settled down to dictate play with their usual high pressing and passing game led by Cletus Chama who gave the Mighty backline a torrid time.

Chama almost conjured a goal for Jackson Were in the 19th minute but the striker fired his effort high and over by his very high standards.

Mighty then suffered a setback in the 38th minute when goalkeeper Joshua Manyongo was stretchered off and replaced by Chrispin Chisowa after failing to recover from an injury he sustained in a duel for the ball with Chama in the 31st minute.

Were, though, did find the target in the 45th minute when he blasted in the ball from the near post as Mighty’s defenders struggled to quell a six-minute on-salught from Zesco.

Zesco turned on the screw after the break but Mighty resolutely defended for a draw to see the home side pick up their second successive point after Green Buffaloes held them at the same venue by the same margin last Saturday.

The defending champions are now seven points behind Zanaco on 33 and 40 points from sixteen and seventeen matches played respectively.

Wanderers stay put in 12th place despite the draw but move slightly from 18 to 19 points after seventeen matches played.