Zesco United win Barclays Cup

Zesco United won their fourth cup honor of 2007 when they lifted the inaugural Barclays Cup this afternoon after defeating promoted Chambishi 4-2 on post-match penalties at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka.

The post-math penalties put some shine and much needed tension in this dull Cup final between the two sides who were meeting in their first decider since their 2002 Coca Coca Cup meeting that Chambishi won 2-1.

Today’s final didn’t have any of the end-to-end action witnessed at Arthur Davies five years ago though Zesco were the better side in attack.

Zesco’s were even unlucky not have been on the scoresheet in the opening half after striker Enoch Sakala’s 45th minute was goal ruled for offside.

This is after winger Clifford Chipalo had seemingly slipped the offside trap only for referee Wellington Kaoma to rule otherwise.

And the 62nd minute substitution of Zesco midfielder Rainford Kalaba left the game even more lifeless despite the player also having a poor day by his own his high standards this season.

In the penalty-shoot out, Zesco converted their chances through Rogers Kamwandi, George Phiri and Sakala before Owen Kaposa missed to break the sequence.

Chambishi converted their two chances through Vanecious Mapande and Preston Musumali, son of ex-Mufulira Wanderers and Power Dynamos players Nelson Musumali.

They went on to lose via misses by Kangwa Bwalya and man of the match John Musukwa before Kalaba’s replacement Maybin Mwaba kept his nerves after a poor game to convert the winner.

The Barclays Cup is now on its way to Zesco’s trophy cabinet in Ndola where the Faz Premier League, Coca Cola, Charity Shield are all tucked away until next season.

And in the 3rd and 4th place playoff played at the same venue at lunchtime, Konkola Blades beat Green Buffaloes 8-7 in another penalty shot-out after the two teams finished 1-1 in another poor encounter.