There is simply no stopping Collins Mbesuma and if Moroka Swallows needed confirmation of that it was provided to them in superb style as the Zambian fired Kaizer Chiefs into the final of the SAA Supa 8 Cup where they will meet their nemesis SuperSport United.

Swallows committed a deadly mistake on 28 minutes by trying an offside trap but Mbesuma was quick to react after collecting a well-timed delivery from Arthur Zwane on the right.

Swallows defender Mohammed Ouseb thought Mbesuma was off when the ball was played through and only realised the seriousness of his error when the flag stayed down. The young Zambian lad fired a powerful low shot to the far post giving goalkeeper Greg Etafia little chance to save.

In the build-up to the match, Swallows confidently spoke of their plan to dump Chiefs out of the Supa 8 and how they would also silence goal machine Mbesuma. That much they nearly did as Namibian Ouseb kept his man in check for the better part of the opening half.

At that point the Birds were soaring and they must have fancied their chance of a second victory against Amakhosi since 1996. Lanky striker Lungisani Ndlela almost reaffirmed that when he flicked in a dangerous ball on four minutes with Rowen Fernandez managing a touch and the ball almost dangerously fell to Edzai Kasinaiyo. For a moment there was a deafening silence as Kasinaiyo tried to reach for the ball but Fabian McCarthy beat him to the challenge to concede a corner.

Chiefs still looked a little unsettled with Mbesuma also trying to find cracks in the solid Swallows defence. The Zambian got a sniff at goal on 22 minutes but there was no power behind his shot and Etafia easily caught the ball but when Mbesuma returned again six minutes later the Swallows keeper had no answers.

Chiefs will meet SuperSport United in the final of the SAA Supa 8 knock-out competition on October 2 at a venue yet to be decided.

United secured their place in the final through a tense penalty shoot-out against Wits University after both sides ended the match tied 1-1 after extra time on Saturday, but Chiefs needed only 90 minutes as they regrouped after a jittery start to record their 14th victory against the Dube Birds since 1996.

Mbeuma did not finish the game due to injury with David Radebe taking his place on 83 minutes. It was a rare chance to impress for Radebe after struggling to break into the starting line-up since the beginning of the season.

The former Free State Stars forward had a clear chance to silence his critics but instead fired way above the goal with only the keeper to beat. Three minutes into stoppage time Gerald Sibeko, who came on for John Moshoeu on 70 minutes, spotted a crack in the Swallows wall and slipped the ball through to Radebe again who ballooned his shot.

Overall, the stage appeared too big for Swallows who could not make their chances count. Ndlela was without doubt the man to watch but when he could not deliver the goals he was tossed out with former Chiefs striker Shaun Permall taking his place on 59 minutes.

Permall showed a lot of hunger as he hassled the Chiefs defence at any given opportunity but the Swallows midfield led by Maimane Phiri and Goodman Mazibuko found the challenge from Tinashe Nengomasha, Moshoeu, Thabo Mooki and Zwane irresistible.

Teams:

Kaizer Chiefs: Fernandez, Mabedi, Nzama, Mkhonza, McCarthy, Zwane, Nengomasha, Moshoeu (Sibeko 70), Mooki, Ngobese (Mayo 63), Mbesuma (Radebe 83).

Moroka Swallows: Etafia, McNab, Ndlovu, Winstanley, Petersen, Ouseb, Mazibuko, Phiri, Kasinauyo, Ngobeni (Ngwerume 62), Ndlela (Permall 59).

Referee: Abdul Ibrahim

Yellow cards: Phiri 12, Nzama, 56, Ndlovu 75, Petersen 79.