Napsa 0-2 Nkana
Nkana got on the road for the 2017 Super league finally and piled pressure on the teams in the top four with a comfortable win against Napsa Stars at Heroes Stadium.
Austin Muwowo set them on the way to a victory that restored them into the top seven after a torrid two weeks that looked to have rocked their season with a good header in the 57th minute in the second half.
And after Nkana missed a succession of chances and were denied by Napsa Stars goal keeper , Shadreck Musonda settled an entertaining encounter and gave them the winning margin their vast superiority deserved with his first goal for Nkana in the 74th minute, towards the end of that encounter.
Napsa Stars were tenacious but were eventually outclassed by Nkana’s greater quality, as Zeddy’s side continued their rehabilitation from their shock defeat at Rangers in week two to maintain their pursuit of a 13th title.
With Walter Bwalya ruled out for the foreseeable ban, Ronald Kampamba was expected to deliver upfront . And the versatile Nkana striker could also have got on the scoresheet in a powerful and impressive performance but Napsa always knew were he was at every time of the game.
Nkana still showed occasional signs of frailty in defence and it became worse when Donashano Malama was stretchered off the pitch but they ultimately carried far too much power for Napsa, especially with Austin restored to his familiar attacking role in the absence of Walter Bwalya.
The visitors were unchanged from the loss against Power Dynamos – but had the lift of the early good signs from Chitiya Mususu and Luka Chamanga who fizzled out as the game got into the 70th mark .
It was Austin Muwowo who made the instant impact as he stole in on a free kick cross to send a downward header beyond the reach of Napsa goal keeper in the 54th minute to subdue a typically vibrant atmosphere inside Heroes stadium.
Nkana’s slick passing was proving too much for Napsa in the second half and it looked like the goal had far energized Nkana than the home team fighting to get back in the game. Napsa, however, showed real reserves of resilience to dig their way back into a match that looked well beyond them with striker Chitiya taking advantage of weakness in Nkana’s defence but nothing proved decisive on the day and Napsa looked a far different team from the team that toiled with Power Dynamos in Kitwe.
For all the typical endeavour of Tenant’s side, it was Nkana who showed thrust going forward as they created a succession of chances before and after the interval.
Napsa refused to go under in the face of Nkana’s attacking threat and created opportunities of their own as the interval approached. Nkana nevertheless knew what was ahead and faught for the three points . They were in no mood to let any more chances slip away – and they duly punished Napsa with the two goals to get their first win of the season.
Napsa, understandably, were showing signs of deflation and Nkana almost increased their lead further only to strike a wide by Nkana forwards and they did win a couple of corners towards the end that showed Napsa had a bad day.
Napsa now needs to understand that games are different and they need full concentration that long unbeaten run at home to Nkana came to a close and that consequently places them below Nkana on the log and will hope for better fortunes as the season rolls on!!!
Bola ibaba
