NAKAMBALA Leopards at the weekend closed up the gap on leaders Green Eagles

NAKAMBALA Leopards at the weekend closed up the gap on leaders Green Eagles to three points after a hard-fought win over City of Lusaka in an exciting FAZ Division One South Week 23 match played in Mazabuka.
Abraham Masiye scored the only goal to push his club up to 42 points with two games in hand over leaders Eagles, who were out of action due to their 2013 Barclays Cup quarter-finals engagements.
Masiye scored a 69th minute goal after benefitting from a well-taken Emmanuel Museka free-kick powering a header past City keeper Fewdays Chibansumuya to take his goal tally to four since joining the side during the mid-season break.
Wilmore Hatembo is the club’s top scorer with seven goals.
The goal came after Danny Masumba had missed from the spot after Maamba-based referee Gilbert Moono awarded the penalty to the home side following a handball by Boris Bupe, but the resultant kick saw Masumba shooting wide.
The penalty sparked controversy and nearly caused a match abandonment but attempts by goalkeeper Chibansumuya to incite his teammates to boycott play were parried by the technical bench led by head coach Fred Nasilele.
City could have taken the lead before the break on the half hour mark after Owen Banda outpaced Lameck Banda on the right flank before he laid an artful cross to Moffat Gondwe but his header went past the post before a yawning goal.
Elsewhere, Lusaka City Council (LCC) moved into third position on 41 points thanks to a 2-1 win over Mongu Youth Sports Academy as Nampundwe surrendered their third slot following a 1-0 defeat away to Luena Buffaloes to remain on 39 points. Lusaka Tigers were held to a 1-all draw to move fifth on 33 points.
Premium 1 Indeni 0
In the northern zone, Premium Sport stunned leaders Indeni with a narrow win on a day that saw Kansanshi Dynamos missing out on the chance to take over league leadership following a 1-0 defeat to Kitwe United.
Indeni remained top of the log with 44 points ahead of second-placed National Assembly on goal difference while Kansanshi remained stuck on 43 points as Mufulira Blackpool lost ground on the leading pack after suffering a 2-1 defeat to FQM Mining.
Other results saw Chambishi beating Nkwiza 2-0 and the result was similar to the Chindwin Sentries’ win over Prison Leopards. There was a rare win for Mansa Health Stars who claimed a walkover over Mumbwa Medics who failed to make the trip.

DIVISION ONE SCOREBOARD

South
Celtic     0          Jetters                         0
Nakambala   1        City                        0
LCC               2         Mongu Youth       1
Luena      1    Nampundwe                   0
Pirates           2        Young Eagles       0
Young Stars  0     Riflemen                  0
Dynamos    3      Panza                          0
Paramilitary 1    Tigers                          1
Eagles       vs        Mazabuka (Not Played)

North
Kitwe   1   Kansanshi                             0
Bresmar   1          Grinaker                    0
FQM         2       Blackpool                     1
Wanderers   0       Ndola                       0
Chambishi  2       Nkwiza                      0
Premium     1       Indeni                        0
Prison     0      Chindwin                        2
Mansa Health   v          Mumbwa Medics (Walkover in favour of Mansa)
Kalewa      v          Assembly (Not played)