Gaba’s first leg goal sinks Kaizer Chiefs
Malawian striker Frank Gabadinho Mhango’s strike against Kaizer Chiefs in the MTN8 semi-final first leg proved vital on Sunday as it propelled his South African club AmaZulu FC to the final.
Usuthu and Amakhosi played out a goalless draw in the second leg in Durban on Sunday for AmaZulu to sail through on away-goal rule, having held Chiefs to a one-all draw in the first leg a fortnight ago through Mhango’s goal.
AmaZulu will now face the Flames striker’s former club Orlando Pirates in the final on November 5.
The Buccaneers defied the odds to thump the defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns 3-0 on Saturday, having played out a barren draw in the first leg.
In an interview yesterday, Mhango said he was excited to guide AmaZulu to the final in only his first season.
He said: “It’s really a great feeling that my first leg goal has taken us to the final, but it is only fair that as a team, we should all take the credit.
“Everyone, from players to technical staff, worked really hard for us to reach this far.”
Mhango also said it will be interesting to face his former club in the final.
He said: “Every player looks forward to such encounters and having missed the league match against Pirates recently due to red card suspension, I look forward to the final.
“I hope to be selected for this match because I have a point to prove. I want to show them the best of me.”
In Sunday’s encounter, the 30-year-old was substituted in the 62nd minute for Lehlohonolo Majoro.
Mhango is currently Amazulu’s leading scorer with five goals, four of them in the DStv Premiership in which he is two goals behind joint leading scorers, SuperSport United’s Bradley Grobler, Sundowns’ Peter Shalulile and Chiefs’ Bonflis Bimenyimana.
The Flames hitman was Pirates’ best striker, including in the 2019/20 season when he was the joint Premier League top scorer alongside Shalulile with 16 goals apiece.
But he was reduced to a sidewhow as soon as Mandla Ncikazi and Fadlu Davids took over as co-coaches.
Mhango’s stellar show at the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Cameroon in January where he was among the leading scorers, could not help his cause either.
