Defending champions Kaizer Chiefs swept Black Leopards aside 2-0 in the semifinal and booked a place in the final of the Telkom Charity Cup competition at the FNB Stadium on Saturday.
The half-time score was 1-0.
AmaKhosi, who beat Sundowns 1-0 in last year’s competition at the same venue, took the lead in the 35th minute via the golden boot of John ”Shoes” Moshoeu.
The energetic veteran, 39 years of age, was sent through by Collins Mbesuma, and Moshoeu — probably the oldest player on the pitch — brought all his experience to the fore.
He first zig-zagged past two defenders and drew Leopards goalkeeper Walter Khumalo off his line before finally pushing a low shot inside the posts, to the delight of thousands of Chiefs fans.
Chiefs, who overshadowed Dynamos 3-0, in the first semifinal of last year’s event, dictated terms in the beginning of the second stanza, but were not in total control of the proceedings.
However, Leopards, who were eliminated 3-1 by Sundowns in last year’s semifinal, never stopped trying.
In fact they tried hard but not enough to penetrate the slightly shaky defence of Chiefs.
Both clubs made more than four substitutions in search of new ideas, but it was the Glamour Boys from Phefeni who almost had the last laugh.
Striker David Radebe, who replaced Mbesuma in the 61st minute, will kick his heels for squandering the easiest of chances. With acres of space and time to convert a defence-splitting pass from Moshoeu, Radebe fired a shot wide in the 72nd minute.
However, Radebe made up for that miss five minutes later when he fed Moshoeu with a perfect cross, but Moshoeu’s diving header was cleared by new ‘keeper Amon Phophi, who had replaced Khumalo in the 58th minute.
Teboho Mashaba, who replaced Peter Matshite, the former Chiefs defender in the 49th minute, was denied by the far post in the 78th minute.
Chiefs, who enjoyed home-ground advantage against their Limpopo-based opponents, mounted their attack forcing the wounded jungle cats to defend in much bigger numbers.
But David Mathebula, who came off for Thabo Mooki in the 65th minute, made his mark when he laid the ball to Tinashe Nengomashe.
The midfield maestro made sure of putting Chiefs in full control at 2-0 in the 80th minute.
The rest was history — bar the shouting. — Sapa