Napsa Stars survived a major scare, scoring a dramatic equalizer in the 90th minute to secure a 1-1 draw against Mutondo Stars in their Week 17 fixture at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.
The highly intense match began with Napsa Stars dominating the first half, creating several scoring opportunities. However, a defensive lapse allowed Mutondo Stars to take the lead in the 39th minute through Chris Mwansa’s strike. At halftime, the Tangala Boys trailed by a goal.
In the second half, Head Coach Sipho Mumbi made two key substitutions, replacing goalkeeper Rodwell Mukwanya with Charles Lawu and introducing Jimmy Mukeya in place of Evans Kayombo Jr. Despite these changes, Napsa Stars continued to push for an equalizer.
The Tangala Boys’ persistence paid off as Coach Mumbi made further adjustments, bringing in Mathew Tolopa for Dickson Chapa in the 62nd minute and Tresor Ilunga for Simon Nkhata in the 69th minute. The latter substitution proved pivotal, as Tresor Ilunga scored his first goal for Napsa Stars.
Ilunga’s equalizing goal came in the 90th minute, sending the Napsa Stars bench into raptures. The goal was a testament to the team’s fighting spirit and determination to secure a positive result.
At full-time, the match ended 1-1, with Mutondo Stars’ lead cancelled out by Ilunga’s late strike. Head Coach Sipho Mumbi expressed disappointment with the result, feeling that his team should have secured a win. However, he praised the team’s resilience and fighting spirit in equalizing.
The draw leaves Napsa Stars in 14th position with 19 points on the log table. The team’s next challenge comes on Sunday when they face Zesco United at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, ahead of the recess. Coach Mumbi will be looking to build on the momentum gained from this match and secure a positive result against their upcoming opponents.
