Zesco United and Konkola Blades have qualified to the semifinals of the 2021 ABSA Cup tournament after seeing off Kansanshi Dynamos and Forest Rangers respectively.
Toaster Nsabata scored the winning penalty to send Zesco United to the semifinals after a 1-1 draw in regulation time.
Kansanshi Dynamos gave Zesco United a good run from the onset with Eric Yema, Daniel Chama, and Royd Alufonso combining well for the Mabanga boys. Numba Mumamba on the other end started youngsters Luwawa Kasoma and Chanda Mukuka who were making their debut in the Competition.
It had to take second-half substitute Tafadzwa Rusike to open the scores as he poked home from close range in the 86th minute but the lead only lasted for a few minutes, Referee Rodrick Ng’andu pointed to the spot in the 89th minute after a Zesco United defender was judged to have handled the ball in the box.
Scot Mwanza stepped up and sent Toaster Nsabata the wrong way to send the match to post-match penalties.
Toaster Nsabata saved Mathews Maleka’s spot-kick before converting for Zesco United to send them into the semifinals. Kansanshi Dynamos will feel hard done after Scot had saved Adrian Chama’s kick but a retake was ordered which did not sit well with the Mabanga Boys.
In the early kickoff, National Division One side, Konkola Blades shocked Super League side Forest Rangers 1-0 thanks to a second-half strike by Emmanuel Mwaba.
The 2011 finalists have booked a place in the semifinals where they will face defending Champions, Zesco United on 17th April at Arthur Davies Stadium.
ABSA CUP QUARTERFINALS
Full Time
Forest Rangers 0-1 Konkola Blades
(E. Mwaba 72′)
Zesco United 1 (5)-(3) 1 Kansanshi Dynamos
(T .Rusike 86’| S. Mwanza 89′)
