Arrows, Buffaloes share spoils

“f”>Zambia Daily Mail by Online Editor on 6/23/13

REEN Buffaloes’ Allan Mukuka and Red Arrows’ Joseph Zimba duel for the ball in yesterday’s FAZ Super Division match at Woodlands Stadium in Lusaka. The match ended 0-0. – Picture by MACKSON WASAMUNU.

By VICTOR KUMWENDA
BUFFALOES 0 ARROWS 0
RED Arrows yesterday held Green Buffaloes to scoreless draw in an MTN Super Division Week 12 encounter at Lusaka’s Woodlands Stadium to slip into fifth place.
Arrows, who were perched third before last weekend’s matches have 18 points, 11 behind surprise leaders Nkana, while Buffaloes have 17, two rungs behind their defence force rivals.
It was a game of two halves with Arrows clearly the better side in the first half before Buffaloes dominated after the break even though both teams looked like they were playing for a draw.
Though former international Felix Katongo tested Arrows goalkeeper Dan Munyao with a spectacular free kick outside the area, it was Arrows who enjoyed the better start to the game with Stanley Nshimbi let down by a heavy touch after latching onto a Dan Sibanda split pass.
Jimmy Chisenga’s good work on the right flank saw him outmuscle Buffaloes centre-back Sanida Zulu and cut the ball back for Nshimbi whose low shot went wide off the mark.
Arrows, despite dominating possession for large spells in the first half, lacked their usual killer passes in the absence of influential midfielder Bruce Musakanya who missed the derby due to suspension.
Musakanya, whose combination with Nshimbi and Sibanda has been a marvel to watch this season, was clearly the missing link between the midfield and strike force as forwards Lubinda Mundia and Patrick Sikwese looked isolated throughout the match.
Percy Bilyoti lashed into the side-netting as Buffaloes looked to capitalise on their early dominance after the break in a bid to break the deadlock, with Buchizya Mfune heading wide Allan Mukuka`s in swinging corner.
When Buffaloes started struggling to retain possession in midfield, coach Patrick Phiri removed Sebastian Mwansa and Felix Katongo for Kennedy Chola and Michael Bulaya, while Lwandamina substituted Sikwese for Evans Musonda with 20 minutes before time.
Chola almost snatched a late winner for Buffaloes but after beating his marker, he lashed his shot over the bar as the spoils were shared at Woodlands Stadium in a rather disappointing derby.
“We did our best to win the game but Buffaloes mostly played behind which made difficult it for us to penetrate their defence. We also missed Bruce (Musakanya).  He is an influential member of the team but overall I think the team played well in his absence,” Arrows’ coach George Lwandamina said.