Were, Chama, & Mbombo sink Arrows as they score for Zesco in Zambian league | Arielle Rodriguez

Kenyan striker Jesse Were takes advantage of a mistimed tackle inside the box late on in the first half as he scores from the penalty spot to give Zesco United a half-time lead

• Zesco lacked threat up-front in the first half and before the goal, Red Arrows came closest to scoring, with Jacob Banda saving well and the linesman putting his flag up to disallow the hosts a goal

• George Lwandamina's side are 15 points adrift of leaders Zanaco FC with 5 games in hand

They had only one shot at it in the first half, with the Kenyan striker rifling the visitors into the lead shortly before half-time. This is the first of four away games in Lusaka for Zesco in 10 days. Jesse Were, Clatous Chama, and Idris Mbombo were the toast of Zesco as they pulled off this unlikely job at a ground which has had a tendency to decide the destiny of the league title. The goals were superb, and the finishes called for precision.

George Lwandamina’s team are well the race for the silverware — a third consecutive Zambian Super League crown — after this dramatic game of smash and grab.

Red Arrows had been on guard throughout, but their crestfallen defense made the mistake that allowed Zesco to go into the half-time break leading 1-0.

You snooze, you lose. It was an important victory for Lwandamina, keeping the pressure on league leaders, Zanaco.

Where they rank among the great teams to win the title is of no concern to George Lwandamina. Zesco United’s manager has put together a team to win the league, grinding down the opposition until they eventually lift the trophy, probably later this month.

They are relentless, we know that. Here at the Estadio del Nkoloma, they were met with the resistance of their noisy hosts Red Arrows, surviving the screams and shouts from the stands to close the gap on Zanaco to 15 points. They will meet at the Estadio de Sunset on October 22, but Zesco are equipped to survive the sternest and stiffest tests that domestic competition can throw at them.

Even Mumamba Numba knows a title-winning team when he sees one. In the first half, Zesco United were careless in possession, knocked out of their rhythm by the boisterous presence of Bronson Chama and the bristling figure of Bruce Musakanya strung out across the Red Arrows midfield.

This defeat feels tough on them because anyone who can sedate Anthony Akumu and Kondwani Mtonga over the course of an entire half of football probably deserves a bit more. The pair were over-run in that Zesco United midfield.

In the first half, Bruce Musakanya looked to be their one chance of making something happen for Red Arrows, a shuttlecock on that halfway line as he flitted in and out of Zesco’s half.

Simon Silwimba will be glad to see the back of him. So will Ben Adama Banh, the Zesco United defender who bravely intercepted Red Arrows' dangerous first-half crosses. Musakanya was a menace. Arrows had a chance to go in front on the half-hour mark, only to be denied by the linesman's flag.

When that failed, Arrows went old school, lofting balls into the box in the hope that their forwards would get their head onto one of them. Even against David Owino and the commanding presence of Ben Adama Banh, the agricultural approach almost worked. Arrows were shooting from anywhere, with a looping effort falling neatly into Banda’ arms from long range and later drawing a stunning save to the keeper’s right with another poke from distance. They shanked an effort wide of Banda’s goal even when put clean through on 20 minutes. They gave this a right, old-fashioned go.

Zesco United are masters at this, calling on the pedigree of Clatous Chama, John Chin'gandu and the timing of Jesse Were to secure this convincing win. It was their first chance, the only time in the first half of this game when they properly opened up the central defensive pairing of Red Arrows. The Kenyan was there to finish the job, scoring from the penalty spot.