Bafana lose in Cosafa semi-finals
Hosts Zambia pipped South Africa 5-3 on penalties after a 0-0 draw Wednesday to reach the Cosafa Cup final.
The decider in mining city Ndola this weekend will be a repeat of the last one in 2009 after title holders Zimbabwe edged Lesotho 2-1 earlier.
Zambia converted all five mandatory shootout kicks with the decisive penalty netted by captain and centre-back Bronson Chama.
Alex Ngonga, Bornwell Mwape, teenager Moses Phiri and Kabaso Chongo were the other scorers for the Chipolopolo.
Thulani Hlatshwayo, Lebogang Manyama and Mzikayise Mashaba scored for Bafana Bafana and Lerato Chabangu had his effort parried by Danny Munyau.
It was a gripping end to a match that did not live up to expectations as the southern Africa national team championship reached the penultimate stage.
Neither Munyau nor opposite number and South Africa skipper Wayne Sandilands were severely tested in regular or extra time at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.
South Africa will feel hard done by because they rattled the woodwork twice during the second half of regular time and Zambia only once.
With both teams fielding experimental teams, there was a lack of rhythm as Zambia attacked more and South Africa defended confidently.
Zimbabwe continued their dominance over Lesotho in the first half of the Ndola double header by coming from behind to win through a Tendai Ndoro brace.
The Warriors had won 11 and drawn three of the previous 15 clashes against the Likuena with the lone loss sustained 12 years ago.
Lesotho have been the surprise side of a tournament first staged in 1997 and revived after a 3 year absence due to lack of sponsorship.
They topped a mini league that included more fancied Kenya and Botswana and edged 3 time champions Angola on penalties in the quarter-finals.
But the fatigue from playing five matches in 10 days caught up with them against Zimbabwe, although they did waste a late chance to equalise.
Lesotho were ahead within four minutes when Notlalepula Mofolo swept in a low cross from Thapelo Tale after Zimbabwe failed to cut off a through pass.
Ndoro, who made his international debut last weekend, levelled on 15 minutes by controlling a long throw-in and firing past Phasumane Kholuoe.
The striker struck again 10 minutes later when he connected with an Eric Chipeta cross and the ball flew wide of the goalkeeper and into the net.
Lehlomela Ramabele could have taken the match to extra time when he had only Maxwell Nyamupangedengu to beat three minutes from time, but blazed wide.
South Africa and Lesotho play for third place Saturday in the curtain-raiser to the final.
(File photo: Gallo Images)
- Sapa