Kaizer Chiefs smashing four past Simba has Gavin Hunt giggling in stitches
Image: Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images
Domestically Kaizer Chiefs have perhaps never been worse, and in the Caf Champions League they just seem to get better, demolishing Simba SC 4-0 in the first leg of Amakhosi’s historic first quarterfinal at FNB Stadium on Saturday night.
A team that has won two matches in 15 to sit in 10th place in the DStv Premiership are now assured a place in the last four of Africa’s premier continental competition, barring an event as improbable and fantastic in Dar es Salaam on Saturday.
Erick Mathoho’s sixth-minute strike, Samir Nurković’s blistering brace in the 34th and 57th and Leonardo Castro’s fourth in the 63rd even had embattled Amakhosi coach Gavin Hunt, barely able to manage a smile in this domestic annus horribilis, giggling in stitches.
Simba signalled ambition from Tanzania’s top clubs by first reaching the quarterfinals in 2018-19. This season they beat Pitso Mosimane’s Al Ahly 1-0 and topped Group A.
They arrived with a smattering of class in foreign players, including two Zambia internationals — ex-Zesco United winger Clatous Chama on the left wing and Larry Bwalya at playmaker.
But the continental Chiefs again were unrecognisable from their domestic version playing a commanding first half against a Simba overawed by their surroundings.
Amakhosi took the lead when Nurkovic flicked on Bernard Parker's corner and Mathoho buried the header.
Playing a 3-4-3 that gave options in defence and attack, the Soweto giants early on displayed some of the defensive jitters that have plagued them, such as when striker Chris Mugalu forced a save off the legs of Bruce Bvuma.
Daniel Cardoso stretched and missed the target found at the far post by a Parker free-kick. Then Frosler’s well-shaped cross found Nurkovic free of his marker to excellently direct a header from 12 metres into the top-left corner.
Leonardo Castro replaced an injured Dumisani Zuma a minute later.
The question back from the break was how Chiefs would set up and respond to a tricky 2-0 lead. Their answer was emphatic, producing two more strikes.
A Simba throw-in in their half was won by Chiefs, and Lebogang Manyama knocked over a defender to burst into the area. Right-back Mohamed Husseini’s header only fell perfectly for Nurkovic to smash a second super finish on the volley.
When Manyama’s tantalising cross saw Castro’s diving header beat goalkeeper Aishi Manula for a fourth time the improbability of it all had Hunt tickled.
FT Score:
Kaizer Chiefs (2) 4
Erick Mathoho 6th; Samir Nurković 34th, 57th; Leonardo Castro 63rd
Simba SC (0) 0