Kansanshi Dynamos Football Club salvaged a vital point with a last-gasp equalizer in their week-16, drawing 1-1 against Mines United to not only share the spoils but also confirm their qualification for the prestigious ABSA Cup competition.
This marks Kansanshi’s second qualification for the tournament, the first being during the 2020/2021 season, also while competing in the National League.
Despite the result not aligning with Coach Zeddy Sailetiโs pre-match expectations, it brought relief to the bench as substitute Kelvin Chisamba found the back of the net in added time, heading in a perfectly placed cross from Thomas Tembo. Chisambaโs signature header ensured Kansanshi left Kabwe with a hard-fought point.
However, the draw came with a downside. Kansanshi Dynamos FC slipped to third place on the log, overtaken by Prison Leopards FC, who now sit second with 32 points, just one point ahead of Kansanshi’s 31.
Reflecting on the game, Coach Saileti acknowledged that his side struggled to control the match against a determined Mines United, who have extended their unbeaten run to nine games. He also noted that the pressure of maintaining their second-place position might have weighed heavily on the players. Nonetheless, he praised his team’s character in the second half, which ultimately secured a valuable point in challenging circumstances.
The game started with Mines Unitedโs Kabata Leonard creating a chance in the 11th minute, but Kansanshiโs goalkeeper Gregory Sanjase handled it well. Just four minutes later, the hosts capitalized on their momentum as Izukanji Simbemba scored with a clinical finish inside the 18-yard box, giving Mines United an early lead.
The first half saw Kansanshi trying to find an equalizer, with a key moment in the 33rd minute when referee Mr. Chilambe awarded a free kick after Nicholas Mulilo fouled Martin Alufonso. Unfortunately, the resulting set piece did not yield a goal.
Desperate for a breakthrough, Coach Saileti made a double substitution in the second half, introducing Mike Zozi for Kizito Kezron and Rabson Mumba for Dave Daka. Despite the changes, Mines Unitedโs defence remained resolute.
The 76th minute saw Emmanuel Sichelah commit a foul on Dalitso Lungu near the edge of the box, earning a yellow card. However, Kansanshi failed to capitalize on the resulting free kick. Lungu, the leagueโs joint top scorer, worked tirelessly but couldnโt find the equalizer and was eventually substituted for Kelvin Chisamba in the 80th minute.
As the clock ticked down, Kansanshi continued to press for a goal. In the 88th minute, Kalonji Mwepu found space for a shot but missed the target.
Finally, in the dying moments of the game, Thomas Tembo delivered a pinpoint cross, and Kelvin Chisamba rose above the defence to nod home the equalizer, breaking the hearts of Mines United, who had been on the verge of claiming all three points.
The match ended in a 1-1 stalemate, with both teams sharing the spoils
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