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A dictionary Emmanuel Mayuka sting at the death of time saw Napsa Stars make history sneaking into the group stages of the Confederations Cup.
However, reportedly, ugly scenes erupted at the National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka as Gor Mahia players broke chairs while the head coach screamed in un-sportsmanship behavior.
Gor-Mahia who touched down in Lusaka an hour before kick-off took the game to the hosts with Onyango and Miheso leading the killer ambush.
Onyango opened the scores in the early minutes of action with a sweetly taken volley off his laces past the Napsa goalkeeper but Napsa were quick to react. Austin Banda came to Napsa’s rescue with a clinical finish from a close range after benefiting from a Silengo pinpoint cross as Napsa leveled.
A bolt out of the blue, Clifton Miheso lazed a sword on the NAPSA artery with a wicked snapshot from outside the box. The former Buildcon forward pounced on a loose ball to drive in a devastating grass cutter past the hapless NAPSA goal keeper and Gor-Mahia went one leg into the group stages.
Coach Muhammed Fathi however quickly pulled out Bornwell Mwape for Emmanuel Mayuka but the match went into a state of hibernation as Napsa defended their lines with their blood while catching the hosts on counterattacks.
It was at the close of action when the game swang back to life with young Jimmy Mukeya running circles round the Mahia defence while Emmanuel Mayuka kept sniffing blood as he looked razor sharp and dangerous at every turn and twist.
Mahia would have put the game to bed five minutes before time when broke loose but a professional foul on Onyango went unpunished to the displeasure of the visitors.
Deep in additional time some sweet one-two between Mukeya and Mayuka saw Mukeya break away from the shackle before he was brought down with a bone breaking tackle and the referee pointed to the spot.
Emmanuel Mayuka stepped forward to convert with ease and poise as Napsa qualified with a 3-2 aggregate.
Gor Mahia Reacts
“This is not football,” said the Mahia coach who was visibly annoyed with the referee. ” The referee needs to have respect for people. These players have families to feed, they have children and nieces to be treated this unfairly is unfortunate.”
In response, Muhammed Fathi said if Mahia were to win they would have done so cleanly as he went on to express his disappointment over the un-sportsmanship behaviour of his opposite end.
Meanwhile Gor Mahia Players have left a mirriad of touch-line furniture broken as they unleashed their anger and displeasure on everything their reach following a late penalty that denied them passage to the group stages.
