Zanaco left it late against Coton Sport of Cameroon as they won 1-0 in their fourth round Group D CAF Champions League encounter played at the Roumde Adjia Stadium in Garoua, Cameroon, on Wednesday.
As the match entered additional time, second-half substitute Attram Kwame released Augustine Mulenga on the left flank who then found a pass to Saith Sakala inside the box, whose finish went in through the bottom corner at the far post.
The victory pushed the Zambian champions to 10 points, three points clear of second-placed Al Ahly and four points ahead of Wydad Athlectic Club of Morocco. Coton Sport are bottom of the table after failing to pick up points in any of their four matches.
During the course of the match it was impossible to pick who would edge it but Zanaco started the stronger of the two as they pressed their hosts in the early stages in which they forced four corners inside the opening 20 minutes.
However, for all their dominance, Zanaco’s best chance to break the deadlock came in the 18th minute when Saith Sakala’s goal-bound effort was cleared on the goalline by Bongyang Dzekem.
It was also Sakala who was denied at the near post by Coton Sport goalkeeper Omossola Simon Loti who closed down the striker following a square pass into the area by Augustine Mulenga in the 52nd minute.
With the danger not cleared, Loti was forced into another reflex save from a long-range effort by Richard Kasonde, although he looked comfortable as he tipped the ball over and behind for a corner.
It took the hosts until the 58th minute to put pressure on Zanaco goalkeeper Toaster Nsabata as Ronald Ngah Wanja broke in the middle of the pack and raced with the ball inside Zanaco’s defensive half but Nsabata came out to make a vital block.
Two minutes later Nsabata was once again tested but he was able to make a comfortable save from a free kick by Paul Serge Mvondo.
And substitute Kamilou Daouda almost scored with his first touch after he was released at the top of the box by Kombous Jean Joseph, moments after replacing Alaf Mayakmon in the 65th minute.
The hosts were all over Zanaco after the hour mark as they searched for the goal that would give them their first group stage victory but they continued to fluff their lines, with Jean Joseph failing to direct his free header on target in the 67th minute.
But it was Zanaco who finished stronger with Attram Kwame, forcing a save out of Loti in the 87th minute. The Ghanaian would play a role in creating the goal three minutes later when he released Mulenga who provided the assist for Sakala.
