Simba comeback comes short as Kaizer Chiefs advance to semis

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania 

Kaizer Chiefs advanced to the semi-final of the Total CAF Champions League despite losing 3-0 to Tanzanian champions Simba in the return leg played in Dar es Salaam on Saturday.

Chiefs went through 4-3 on aggregate having won the first leg 4-0 in Johannesburg last weekend.

A John Bocco brace and a Clatous Chota Chama goal gave Simba the win at home.

Simba had roared all week about a potential comeback, but all the dream and ambition came one goal short of forcing the game into penalties. 

Amakhosi however advance to the last four, their ambition for the title still on course.

With a five-goal mountain staring at them at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar, 

Simba charged into the match with courage. After minutes of pounding in the pressure, they broke the deadlock in the 24th minute when Bocco scored the first of his two.

Simba’s charge was threatened few minutes to the break when Taddeo Lwanga and Joash Onyango both had to come off injured, but that did little to deter their determination.

Going to the break with just a single goal lead, the dream comeback seemed a far fetched idea.

But after the breather, they were 2-0 up in the 56th minute in when Bocco completed his brace. That fired Simba’s cylinders and they chased the game with utmost belief.

Chiefs brought in Antony Akumu and Willard Katsande to solidify the midfield and try to cut out Simba’s fluidity. It worked for some minutes, but the home side had the third with four minutes left when Chama scored.But, the comeback was never to be as the all important fourth goal proved elusive.