Zambia beat South Africa to reach COSAFA cup finals

Chipolopolo have booked a place in the final of the ongoing COSAFA Cup by beating hosts South Africa two goals to one.

Zambia will now play Lesotho who beat Malawi 3 goals to nil on post-match penalties after the teams played to a 1-1 draw.

South Africa striker Tshegofatso Mabasa
reacted quickly to a loose ball in the box after Chipolopolo goalkeeper Francis Mwansa parried a shot.

Mabasa rifled the rebound into the back of the net to draw first blood in the hotly contested semi final at the brink of halftime.

South Africa, however, conceded an equaliser just five minutes after halftime after allowing the ball to bounce around in the box as they failed to clear from a long throw and Golden Mashata was able to hook a shot into the net from close range.

The winning goal by Zambia arrived in 69th minute when Red Arrows striker Albert Kangwanda scored a superb free kick reminiscent of the legendary Kalusha Bwalya’s dead ball heroics, ironically the forward was donning the number 11 jersey.

Kangwanda whose goal tally went to three at the tournament, placed a 30-yard free-kick into the top corner of the net, giving goalkeeper Olwethu Mzimela no chance.

Zambia held on to the victory despite South Africa throwing everything together with the kitchen sink in attempt to make the scores level.

There was some desperate defending in the end but it worked out in favour for Chipolopolo who held out for a famous victory.

The third-place play-off between Malawi and South Africa will kick off at 15 hours on Sunday while the final between Lesotho and Zambia will be played at 18 hours local time.

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