Zambia bounce back with victory over Comoros

Zambia kept their Cosafa Cup title defence alive as they put in a much improved performance to beat 10-man Comoros 2-1 at the King Zwelithini Stadium in Durban on Sunday afternoon.

The Copper Bullets looked impressive throughout in this Group B encounter and took a deserved lead courtesy of a fine finish from Frederick Mulambia early in the second half before a defensive lapse saw Affane Djambae equalise for the Coelacanths.

However, Moses Sichone's side kept knocking on the door and were rewarded for their efforts when Albert Kangwanda capped off a flowing move to score the winner 16 minutes from time.

Chipolopolo moved level on three points with the islanders and Malawi, who are in action against Seychelles later in the evening.

The defending champions had suffered a surprise 1-0 defeat to the Flames on Thursday, but they made a better start on the KZN coast on this occasion and Kangwanda forced Velonjara Salimo into a fine save at his near post from an acute angle on the right in the 16th minute after Mulambia's initial shot ricocheted back into his path.

Kangwanda then tested Salimo with a strike from the top of the D on 20 minutes before Moyela Libamba produced a superb one-handed save out of the Coelacanths goalkeeper with a shot on the turn three minutes later.

Lawrence Mulenga was a virtual spectator in the first half as he only had just one real save to make from Djambae early on and the two teams headed into the break still deadlocked at 0-0.

It took Zambia just six second-half minutes to hit the front though, when Mulambia swapped passes with Kelvin Kampamba and Libamba before arrowing his shot in off the left post from just outside the area.

Kampamba threatened to double their lead four minutes later with a strike from the edge of the box that was expertly tipped around the right post by Salimo and it proved a crucial save as the Coelacanths sprung a quick counter-attack which resulted in a costly error from Samson Mkandawire to gift the ball to Djambae for a simple finish.

The Copper Bullets went back in front just seven minutes later though, as Andrew Phiri released Golden Mashata down the left channel and he picked out an open Kangwanda to slot home into an empty net for the win.

The Coelacanths would finish the game with 10 men when Bakri Youssouf received his marching orders for a second yellow card on 77 minutes.

Zambia (0) 2 (Mulambia 51', Kangwanda 74')

Comoros (0) 1 (Djambae 67')

Zambia: L. Mulenga, S. Mkandawire, K. Kanguluma, M. Chabala, J. Chishimba, K. Kapumbu, K. Kampamba, F. Mulambia (J. Kosamu 80'), A. Siankombo (G. Mashata 68'), A. Kangwanda (O. Lumbiya 89'), M. Libamba (A. Phiri 69').

Comoros: V. Salimo, M. Zamir, M. Soulaimana, A. Abdallah, Bakri Youssouf, F. Faidine, H. Ahmed (M. Mze 65'), I. Youssouf, R. Bacar (Bacar Youssouf 82'), M. Youssouf (M. Ibrahim 65'), A. Djambae.