Ian Otieno’s Zesco suffer shock loss to Prison Leopards

© Zesco United

STARS ABROAD Ian Otieno’s Zesco suffer shock loss to Prison Leopards

Mark Kinyanjui 14:39 - 08.01.2024

Otieno has largely been the side’s first-choice goalkeeper this season, but could not keep a clean sheet as against Leopards.

Harambee Stars goalkeeper Ian Otieno started but could not help Zesco United continue their winning run, suffering a shock 1–0 loss to Prison Leopards in a Zambian Super League fixture played on Sunday afternoon.

Otieno, who has largely been the side’s first-choice goalkeeper this season, could not keep a clean sheet as Leopards converted a priceless penalty in the closing stages of the first half to effectively give them all three points.

Striker David Obashi announced his return from injury with a Man of the Match performance for Leopards.

The Nigerian-born striker, who missed the previous two matches due to injury, was on fire as he scored from the spot to help the Correct Boys record their fourth victory after going winless in five games.

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Zesco have now missed the chance to restore their four-point lead at the top of the Zambian Super League as they have seen their lead cut to a single point this weekend after Red Arrows’ thumping 4-1 win at FC Muza on Saturday.

Leopards stay in 17th place on the table, but have cut the gap between themselves and safety to four points, having been in danger of being cut adrift in recent weeks.

The result ends a run of four successive 1-1 draws between the sides and is just a second win for Leopards in their last 10 fixtures against Zesco.

It is also Leopards’ first win in six games, drawing once and losing on four occasions, while Zesco suffered defeat for the first time in 10 matches.