The past weekend saw the 2004 Coca-Cola Cup turning the heat on with the semifinals. On Saturday Kaizer Chiefs beat Moroka Swallows in an intense battle at Securicor Loftus in Pretoria, the game ended with the scores deadlocked at 2-2.

Amakhosi striker Patrick Mayo opened the scoring in the 12th minute. However, Chiefs celebrations were short lived when Pitso Lekone equalised a mere three minutes later to give the Birds a glimmer of hope.

Swallows were awarded a penalty in the 77th minute when Derrick Spencer’s eagerness took over and he brought lanky Lungisani Ndlela down in the box. Chiefs upped their game and went into all out attack in desperate search of an equaliser, which they found through prolific scorer, Collins Mbesuma who finished a wonderful volley past Greg Etafia with only three minutes remaining.

Rowen Fernandez was Amakhosi’s saviour on the day pulling a spectacular penalty performance out the bag. Fernandez saved three of Swallows four penalties. And had teammates Kabamba Musasa and David Radebe ensured Chiefs path to the final converting their penalties.

On Sunday, Wits University narrowly lost out to Supersport United at Olen Park in Potchefstroom. After both teams failed to convert any of their chances the match went to penalties, where Supersport pipped them 4-3. The game was a dull encounter and neither team really looked deserved semi-finalists, chances were few and far between and both teams failed to capitalise on their opportunities.

Kaizer Chiefs will face Supersport United on the 18 December 2004 for the 2004 Coca-Cola Cup final, in a replay of the SAA Supa 8 final that took place just over two months ago. It will be interesting to see whether the Glamour Boys can break the jinx that Matsatsantsa has over them.