OWN CORRESPONDENT, Mbabane | Sunday 7.00pm.
OUTSIDERS Swaziland reached the Castle Cup Southern Africa championship semi-finals with a dramatic triumph over Zimbabwe in Mbabane on Sunday.
A last-minute goal from a controversial penalty award earned the Swazis a 1-1 draw and they won the shootout 4-3 to join Angola in the last four of the annual competition.
Kaitano Tembo, who put Zimbabwe ahead in normal time and was voted man of the match, saw his penalty rebound off the post and when Sipho Dube saved from Maxwell Dube, Somhlolo Stadium erupted in celebration.
Swaziland, ranked 139 in the world, are enjoying a rare winning streak with a first-round win over Mozambique followed by friendly victories against Lesotho and Botswana.
Coach Francis Banda from Zambia cut a sad figure for most of a scrappy match watched by a crowd of 15000 in overcast conditions as Swaziland made little impact on the Zimbabwe defence.
South Africa-based Tembo put Zimbabwe ahead after 60 minutes when he outjumped three defenders to guide a William Mugeyi corner past goalkeeper Dube.
All seemed lost for the Swazis until substitute Bongiswa Nhlabatsi, who had his shirt pulled by Dumisani Mpofu outside the penalty area, fell inside the box and the Mozambican referee pointed to the spot.
Another substitute, Bongani Mdluli, remained calm while Zimbabwe protested before sending the ball just above diving goalkeeper Muzondiwa Mugadza into the net.
Zimbabwe returned to the dressingrooms, unaware that a shootout would settle the match, and there was a long delay before Sibusiso Dlamini, Nhlabatsi, Siza Dlamini and Mdluli converted kicks to take Swaziland through.
Namibia host South Africa on July 31 and defending champions Zambia entertain Mozambique on August 7 in the other quarter-finals and the semi-finals are scheduled for August. — AFP