The Amakhosi prevailed against traditional Soweto rivals Moroka Swallows in a game that had all the drama one would expect out of a Cup semifinal, being played by two teams who have a great rivalry and long standing traditional rivalry.

Chiefs came through what can partly be described as a highly entertaining and at times ill tempered affair which was not helped by some inept refereeing from Jonas Nhlapho, who at times looked to have lost control of this highly charged encounter as some of his decisions seemed to defy logic. Most noteably was his sending off of Chiefs defender Siphiwe Mkhonza early in the second half.

With victory, Chiefs have repeated the sequence of events from the 2004 SAA Supa8 when they defeated Swallows also at the semifinal stage and set up a final encounter with SuperSport United, who will again be The Amakhosi’s opponents in the final to be played in October.

Coming into the game Chiefs were under the kosh from many sectors of the press and The Amakhosi responded in the best possible way with a win and an overall performance that is worthy of any praise that can be heaped upon it.

The first scoring chance fell the way of Shaun Bartlett who picked up a loose ball in the Swallows defense after Patrick Mabedi had faltered when trying to clear his lines, the Chiefs striker mistimed his shot and Swallows were able to clear their lines.

Swallows had vowed to give Chiefs the game of their life prior to kick off and went close to taking the lead when Cecil Oerson sent in a low cross from the right, which found Tsewu Mokoro inside the Chiefs penalty box. Miraculously the Swallows midfielder's close range shot did not find its intended target and instead rocked Rowen Fernandez cross bar and flew away to safety.

Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp had said before the game that his needed some luck in order to turn results in The Amakhosi’s favor, with half time approaching lady luck came to the party for Chiefs as a cross was sent into the Swallows penalty area.

Swallows keeper, Greg Etafia, came out and collided with a Chiefs player. As he lay on the floor all he could do was watch as his clearance fell to the feet of Scara Ngobese, who needed no second invitation as he drove the ball home to give Chiefs the lead.

The Amakhosi had the worst possible start to the second half as they had defender Siphiwe Mkhonza sent off when he collected his second yellow card under somewhat dubious circumstances, when the referee said he was time wasting while taking a throw-in.

In fairness, the Chiefs defender had to maneuver through an obstacle course made up of speakers and a television microphone as he attempted to take the throw-in. The decision was rung in around the ABSA Stadium with a chorus of boos.

Swallows almost immediately made the most of their numerical advantage soon afterwards, as former Amakhosi player Bevan Fransman equalized with a header off a corner after The Amakhosi defense failed to pick up his run into the area. The Dube Birds continued to exert pressure on Chiefs and forced Rowen Fernandez into making a one handed save when under pressure from Swallows tall Senegalese striker Mame Niang.

Both teams finished the game with ten men when Swallows had defender Bjorn Gugger sent off on seventy minutes, for a rough tackle on Gert Schalkwyk after the Chiefs' midfielder had beat him on his way towards the Swallows goal.

With the scores dead locked after normal time, extra time was needed to decide the outcome and it was Chiefs who shone in the overcast Durban conditions, as they attacked the Swallows goal immediately from the restart.

It was Swallows though who had the early crack at goal, Rowen Fernandez stood firm when saving at close range from his former team mate and current Swallows striker Songwe Chalwe. With all the pressure Chiefs were applying on the Swallows goal, it was only going to be a matter of time before The Amakhosi got their second goal.

It duly arrived on a 103 minutes when Scara Ngobese played a pass along the ground to Kaizer Junior who took a shot at goal which was blocked by Etafia, the deflected shot rose into the air and fell to Gert Schalkwyk who knocked the ball into the empty net.

David Radebe who came on as a substitute in extra time did have a chance to make sure of the win late on, but he shot wide after out-pacing Fransman and did well to get his shot over Etafia and was unfortunate not to get on the score sheet as the ball rolled wide.

With half the job done Chiefs will be relishing the opportunity of having a go at SuperSport United in the final to be played next month. This encounter gives the Amakhosi the chance to avenge their 2004 SAA Supa8 Final defeat at the hands of United when they meet Pitso Mosimane’s team in Octobers final.

Line Up’s:

Kaizer Chiefs: 1. R. Fernandez, 4. C. Nzama, 6. F. McCarthy, 44. S. Mkhonza, 21. P. Mayo,

8. T. Nengomasha, 12. T. Mooki, 10. S. Nkosi (25. Schalkwyk 46 min), 11. E. Ngobese,

17. S. Bartlett (31. Radebe 90 min), 20. L. Agyemang (7. Motaung Jnr 72 min)




Substitutes: 16. R. Wuest, 28. D. Spencer, 25. G. Schalkwyk, 33. D. Mototo, 7. K. Motaung Jnr,

24. D. Mathebula, 31. D. Radebe




Coach: Ernst Middendorp

Moroka Swallows: 34. G. Etafia, 16. B. Fransman, 6. B. Gugger, 18. H. Botes, 7. M. Haskins, 4. P. Mabedi, 32. T. Mokoro (8. Mbele 84 min), 30. T. Monyai, 14. C. Oerson (9. Gwekwerere 109 min),

12. L. Tsutsulupa, 10. S. Chalwe




Substitutes: 1. A. Mathibe, 22. G. Mazibuko, 8. B. Mbhele, 2. L. Mohlala, 20. M. Niang, 23. S. Themba, 9. E. Gwekwerere




Coach: Gavin Hunt

Cautions:

Kaizer Chiefs: Yellow Cards, 8. Tinashe Nengomasha 7 min, 11. Emmanuel Ngobese 40 min,

25. Schalkwyk 46 min, 44. Siphiwe Mkhonza 48 min




Red Cards: 44. Siphiwe Mkhonza 50 min

Moroka Swallows: Yellow Cards: 20. Mame Niang 70 min


Red Cards: 6. Bjorn Gugger 77 min

Officials: Referee: Jonas Mahlomola Nhlapho


Assistant 1: Lazarus Matela


Assistant 2: Thuloane Gumede


4th Official: Zwelibanzi Nkosi


Match Commissioner: Robert Pillay