Zanaco FC handed the Faz Super League champions Zesco United a fourth straight loss after a 3-0 win on Sunday.
A brace from Rodgers Kola and another from Chitiya Mususu were enough to compound Zesco United's woes as they raced to defend their league title.
It only took Zanaco two minutes on the pitch to get their first goal when Chitiya Mususu found the back of the net as Zesco United struggled to stifle attacks from their opponents.
The Bankers doubled their lead in the ninth minute when Kola fired home to punish a Zesco United side that took too long to settle at their opponents' turf. It could have been three had Clement Mwape not cleared his line in the seventh minute with Zanaco firing from all sides.
A combination between Tafadzwa Rusike and Jackson Were in the 14th minute could have halved the deficit but Kelvin Owusu dispossessed the Kenyan striker before he could control the ball and aim his shot goal-wards.
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Kola earned a brace in the 20th minute when an Owusu's cross found him in the right place as Zesco United's backline was caught napping once more. The Zambian forward tapped home to stretch Zanaco's lead just under 20 minutes of the encounter.
Coach George Lwandamina decided to make his first change a minute before the half-hour mark as he brought Mwili Phiri in to replace Kondwani Mtonga.
Were and Ching'andu did well to penetrate Zanaco's defence in the 23rd minute but the latter was penalised by the referee for handball as he readied to take a shot.
Were was frustrated once more when, despite being put through on goal by Winston Kalengo clinically, he could only fire a timid shot goalkeeper Toaster Nsabata collected with ease in the 31st minute.
Nsabata's save in the 51st minute denied Fackson Kapumbu after the striker tried to find the top corner with the champions launching sporadic attacks at their Lusaka-based rivals.
Late attacks could not save Team Ya Ziko from going down again as they struggled to balance domestic and continental duties
This is Zesco's third consecutive domestic loss after initial defeats to Forest Rangers and Nkwazi while the other came at the hands of Zamalek SC in a Caf Champions League tie in Egypt on January 10.
The result means Team Ya Ziko will remain perched at position four with 31 points, five fewer than leaders Green Eagles. Zesco have, however, played three fewer games.
The win will help the Bankers wheel away from the relegation zone after their 15th game.
