It’s advantage Kaizer Chiefs after the CAF Champions League quarter-final first leg played at the FNB Stadium on Saturday evening, as Chiefs thrashed Tanzania’s Simba 4-0 .
Chiefs are now in an excellent position to reach the semi-finals, taking a four goal advantage and clean sheet into next week’s second leg in Tanzania.
Kaizer Chiefs 4-0 Simba
Chiefs got off the to ideal start as Erick Mathoho headed the home team into the lead in the 7th minute. An assist by Samir Nurkovic.
Trailing, the Tanzanians tried to take control of the possession, and while they would see a lot of the ball in the first twenty minutes, they were struggling to get any clear cut chances, as the Chiefs’ defence stood fast, with Siyabonga Ngezana making some early crucial interventions.
As the game wore on, Chiefs began to wrestle control away, and Daniel Cardoso went close in the 25th minute as he did well to get on the end of a Bernard Parker free kick, but his first time effort to poke a shot in at the back post was off target.
It was 2-0 to Chiefs in the 34th minute as Samir Nurkovic got to the end of a good Reeve Frosler cross and his well timed header beat the Simba goalkeeper Aishi Manula. It was all the more impressive as that goal was scored when Chiefs were playing with ten men as Chiefs were forced into an early change as Dumisani Zuma went off injured, Leonardo Castro replacing him after the goal.
Clatous Chama thought he had a penalty for Simba in the 38th minute, but the referee was having none of it and waved play on. A minute later Nurkovic and Frosler combined again, but this time the Serbian’s attempt with his right foot was off target.
At halftime Chiefs deservedly led by two goal to nil.
The visitors came out in the second half, looking for a way back into the game, but just like in the first half they found a stern Chiefs defence blocking their way.
Nurkovic made it 3-0 to Chiefs in the 57th minute, as he pounced after a Simba defender tried to head clear and the Serbian was on hand to unleash a great powerful effort. A minute later Nurkovic went close again, shooting just wide.
Njabulo Blom’s long range effort in the 61st minute was high and wide, but it was 4-0 to Chiefs a minute later as Castro did well to reach a Lebogang Manyama cross and his diving header flew into the goal.
The Amakhosi team continued to frustrate their opponents for the remainder of the half, and when in possession continued to pose questions of their opponents
Nurkovic could have had his hat-trick in the 81st minute, but this time he couldn’t get full control of his header and it went over.
It was the ideal result for Chiefs who are in the quarter-finals for the first time, and who despite their struggles in the DStv Premiership, put in a performance that puts them in good stead to add ‘first-time semi-finalists’ to their resumé.
