Kansanshi Dynamos maintained their dominance over Mufulira Wanderers with a convincing 2-0 victory in a Week 23 MTN Super League encounter.
The Mabanga Boys produced a disciplined performance at home to secure an important three points as they continue their fight to move away from the relegation zone.
Kansanshi Dynamos took the lead early in the match when Kizito Keziron produced a moment of brilliance in the 11th minute, unleashing a beautiful long-range strike that found the back of the net to give the hosts a 1-0 advantage.
Mufulira Wanderers attempted to respond midway through the first half and were awarded a free kick in a promising position in the 29th minute, but Owen Mwamba sent his effort wide.
The visitors continued to search for an equaliser and created another opportunity in the 34th minute, but Mathews Mutambo made a solid clearance to keep Kansanshi Dynamos in the lead.
Kansanshi Dynamos doubled their advantage in the 54th minute after a fortunate moment in the box. A defensive mix-up saw Francis Simunika inadvertently turn the ball into his own net, handing the hosts a 2-0 lead.
Mufulira Wanderers pushed forward in search of a way back into the game. In the 70th minute, Max Kabwe tested the Kansanshi Dynamos defence with a shot that took a bounce just off goalkeeper Gwazani, but the hosts managed to deal with the danger.
Another opportunity came in the 86th minute when Patson Kwataine struck a powerful long-range effort, but Gwazani reacted well to parry the ball away before the defence cleared the resulting corner.
Late substitutions saw Clinton Lubula replace Francisco Madinga, while Julius Mwanza came on for goal scorer Kizito Keziron as Kansanshi Dynamos comfortably managed the closing stages of the match.
Speaking after the match, assistant coach Dennis Makinka praised the players for their determination and effort.
“First of all, congratulations to the boys. I thought they gave it their all just like we planned and just like we worked on in training. Everyone was fighting and everyone wanted this win.”
Makinka acknowledged that despite the scoreline, the match was far from easy against a strong Mufulira Wanderers side.
“Mighty are a very good team, a ball-playing team. The game was not easy. Someone who did not watch might think it was easy, but it was very tough. Hard luck to them because the way they are playing, they also don’t deserve to lose, but football is like that, one team has to win.”
The assistant coach also thanked the supporters and the club leadership for their continued support.
“We thank God for the result and congratulate the boys, the executive and the supporters. We are working as a team and we appreciate the support we continue to receive.”
Looking ahead, Makinka described the victory as an important morale boost as Kansanshi Dynamos prepare for a demanding run of fixtures.
“This is a very important result for us. We are playing Red Arrows on Wednesday and then Power Dynamos. This win gives us confidence going into those matches. For us to move out of the relegation zone we need to be consistent regardless of who we are playing.”
Full Time
Kansanshi Dynamos 2 – 0 Mufulira Wanderers
