Ten-man Zesco United beat Nkana 5-4 on post-match penalties to eliminate defending champions from the 2015 Samuel ‘Zoom’ Ndhlovu Charity Shield semifinals.
The two sides finished 1-1 at Arthur Davies Stadium in Kitwe on Sunday just 24 hours after a storm wash away their scoreless draw at halftime at the same venue.
However, there was some pre-match drama on Sunday when skirmishes ensued between police and Nkana supporters outside the stadium when the fans invaded Arthur Davies after refusing to pay to get in.
Not even the tear gas deterred them from achieving their objective when they brought three down sections of the prefabricated fence at the stadium and forced their way in but unsuccessfully also tried to force one gate to the ground.
Security officials then surrendered to the overwhelming sea of red that stormed Arthur Davies without much incident after that.
Nkana’s roaring fans were silenced in the 15th minute when Zesco striker Winston Kalengo raced past two defenders to put them 1-0 ahead at halftime.
Nkana equalised in the 64th minute through midfielder Joseph Sitali who curled in a sublime free kick just seven minutes after he came on for Claude bwalya.
Zesco them suffered a setback in the 72nd minute when defender Bernard Mapili was sent off for a second booking.
The drama continued two minutes later when Zesco found themselves with 11 players on the pitch after referee Milton Mweemba failed to notice that Lazarus Kambole was still on the field of play despite being replaced by Chishimba Changala.
Meanwhile in the penalty shootout, Nkana failed to convert their third penalty when Josphat Kasusu’s spot-kick was saved by Jacob Banda.
Shadreck Musonda, Maybin Chishimba, Felix Nyaende and Donashano Malama all converted their post-match penalties.
Zesco were clinical in their finish through Changala, David Odhiambo, Ayo Oluwafemi, Justin Zulu and Misheck Chaila.
Nkana will ever lose to Zesco utd just like tribal HH shall ever lose elections to Mighty PF!!!Congrats to Zesco utd!!!
But bola yapa CB, na rigging!? the boys dribbled the refu by substituting for nothing? ECZ rigging formula is working …
eddy take politics away from soccer,after all yo victory was extremely dubious.
History mostry it repeats it self.nkana alwayz wll b sufering in the HHhand of zimandola ( zambians )even in 2016 HHe wll loose
Wusakile boys will never find penalties easy. Winning by the lottery has never been our way to victory.
Anyhow congrats to Zesco
ba Nkana, our perpetual customers. Games between Zesco and nkana should be decided off the pitch. Let the players just exchange handshakes and the coaches and referees agree on a scoreline in favour of Zesco and then save us the valuable time to watch other matches whose results are not so obvious.
10 years running, Nkana has never beaten Zesco… I warned Chambeshi last week that he should pull up his socks.
Zsikolo timu ya ziko……!
Zesikolo timu ya ziko…..!