/ 22 August 2004

Chiefs advance to semifinals

Kaizer Chiefs advanced to the semifinals of the SAA Super 8, beating Black Leopards 2-1 after playing to a 1-1 draw in regulation time at the FNB Stadium on Saturday.

Amakosi led 1-0 at half-time.

Chiefs’ Zambian striker Collins Mbesuma scored a brace — his first at the stroke of half-time and the winner in the 94th minute. Leopards’ Wonder Nhleko scored his team’s equaliser in the 64th minute.

Leopards came back strongly in the second half with their Swaziland international striker Sibusiso Dlamini being prominent in attack.

It was his efforts that allowed Nhleko to equalise from a rebound, which he threaded through Chiefs goalie Rowan Fernandez’s legs.

In extra time, Mbesuma capitalised from weak defending when he gathered the ball from halfway and beat a cluster of Leopards defenders before unleashing a powerful shot, giving goalkeeper Amon Phophi no chance. — Sapa