Kaizer Chiefs get the chips against Simba FC

Domestically, Kaizer Chiefs have perhaps never been worse, and in the Caf Champions League they just seem to get better, demolishing Simba SC 4-0 in the first leg of Amakhosi's historic first quarterfinal at FNB Stadium last night.

A team that has won two matches in 15 to sit in 10th place in the DStv Premiership are now assured a place in the last four of Africa's premier continental competition.

Erick Mathoho's sixth-minute strike, Samir Nurkovic's blistering brace in the 34th and 57th and Leonardo Castro's fourth in the 63rd even had embattled Amakhosi coach Gavin Hunt, barely able to manage a smile in this domestic season, giggling in stitches.

Simba signalled ambition from Tanzania's top clubs by reaching the quarterfinals in 2018-19. This season they beat Pitso Mosimane's Al Ahly 1-0 and topped Group A.

They arrived with a smattering of class, including two Zambia internationals - ex-Zesco United winger Clatous Chama on the left wing and Larry Bwalya as playmaker.

But the continental Chiefs again were unrecognisable from their domestic version, playing a commanding first half against a Simba overawed by their surroundings.

Amakhosi took the lead when Nurkovic flicked on Bernard Parker's corner and Mathoho buried the header.

The Soweto giants early on displayed the defensive jitters that have plagued them, such as when striker Chris Mugalu forced a save off the legs of Bruce Bvuma.

Frosler's well-shaped cross found Nurkovic free to excellently direct a header from 12m into the top-left corner.

Leonardo Castro replaced an injured Dumisani Zuma a minute later.

The question at the break was how Chiefs would set up. The answer was emphatic.

Lebogang Manyama burst into the area. Right-back Mohamed Husseini's header fell perfectly for Nurkovic to smash in a volley.

Then Manyama's tantalising cross saw Castro's diving header beat goalkeeper Aishi Manula for a fourth time.