Zesco United failed to move into 3rd place on the league table after a 3-0 home loss on Tuesday night against Lumwana Radiants at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.
The result comes just four days before Zesco hosts SuperSport United in a 2017 CAF Confederation final leg,quarterfinal with the two sides tied at 0-0 from the first leg on September 15 away in Pretoria.
Lumwana enjoyed the lions share of opportunities early in the first half but found goalkeeper Dieudonne Ntibahezwa in inspired form.
However, Zesco almost took the lead in the 21st minute but Davies Kasirye’s effort was cleared off the line by defender Enock Chingwere. Chisenga Lukwembe then put Lumwana 1-0 into the break with a goal on the stroke of halftime.
Chanda Mushili extended Lumwana’s lead in the 72st minute after steal the ball off Ntibahezwa outside the box that left the goalkeeper injured.
Sadly, Zesco had exhausted all their subs and so defender Fackson Kapumbu stepped in for Ntibahezwa.
But Zesco’s woes continued when Eddie Sinyangwe beat Kapumbu in five minutes deep into stoppage time with the final goal.
Zesco stay 6th on 46 points and seven points behind leaders Green Buffaloes from 28 games played and another 11 to go.
Lumwana stay 9th but are now four points behind Zesco on 42 points.