Kaizer Chiefs routed Simba SC 4-0 in the 2020-21 CAF Champions League quarterfinal first-leg match at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on Saturday evening.
It is proving to be a terrific first appearance in the CAF Champions League for the South African giants as they schooled the Tanzanian champions with a 4-0 victory going into the second leg in Dar es Salaam on 22nd May.
Amakhosi began the match brightly and they took an early lead through Erick Mathoho, who marked his return to the starting line-up in the best way possible by finding the back of the net in the sixth minute.
The defender headed home to make it 1-0 to Chiefs after he had connected with Samir Nurkovic’s flicked header from a Bernard Parker corner kick.
2️⃣ Goals.
1️⃣ Assist.?? @kaizerchiefs’ Samir Nurkovic definitely had a stunning performance ? Simba SC.#TotalCAFCC pic.twitter.com/YaV0C9e5Om
— Total CAFCL – Total CAFCC ? (@CAFCLCC) May 17, 2021
Simba then pressed Chiefs as they searched for the equalizing goal, but they were frustrated by the hosts’ defence which was marshalled by Mathoho.
The hosts were soon 2-0 up when Reeve Frosler’s cross was headed home by Nurkovic in the 34th minute as it beat Simba goalkeeper Aishi Manula who was helpless.
The Reds of Msimbazi were the better side after the restart, however, as they surged forward in numbers in search of finding a way back into the game, but it was the Chiefs again, who added to their lead.
Mohammed Husseini headed the ball into Nurkovic’s path by mistake and the Serbian striker volleyed the ball past Manula to make it 3-0 to Chiefs in the 57th minute.
The Soweto giants were running riot as they extended their lead through Leonardo Castro, who had replaced the injured Dumisani Zuma in the first half and it was lights out for the visitors.
The Colombian scored with a diving header to make it 4-0 to the South African club after connecting on Lebogang Manyama’s pinpoint cross in the 63rd minute to seal the deal for the home side.
Hassan Dilunga was introduced by Simba head coach Didier Gomes Da Rosa in the 74th minute as the Reds of Msimbazi looked to grab a late away goal but the away side failed to do any damage.
Chiefs goalkeeper Bruce Bvuma was called into action with five minutes left and he pulled off a top save to deny John Bocco as Chiefs emerged victorious on the night and it will take some doing for Simba to turn things around in the capital next week.
Simba came into the quarterfinals as one of the favourites given they topped the group that featured defending champions Al Ahly but they were truly humbled by the first-time participants, which shows how no teams in the last 8 of Africa’s premier club competition can be ruled out.
