South African giants Kaizer Chiefs hammered Tanzanian champions Simba FC 4-0 on Saturday in the first leg of the African Champions League quarter finals to move within touching distance of a first ever semi-final appearance. It took them only six minutes to break the deadlock as Eric Mathoho headed home from a corner before Serbian striker Samir Nurkovic doubled the lead in the 34th minute with a powerful header. Nurkovic completed his double with a powerful long-range shot in the 57th minute and Leandro Castro completed the rout with another header from a pinpoint cross from Manyama seven minutes later. Next week's return leg should be a walk in the park for Kaizer Chiefs, whose best continental achievement was a Cup winners' Cup triumph in 2001. The South African league record winners – now a fading power after giving way to heavyweights Sundowns – are making their first ever appearance in the knockout stages of the Champions League. Simba emerged as this season's surprise package after topping Group A ahead of defending champions and record nine-time winners Ahly, who will face Sundowns later on Saturday. In the other game of this afternoon, Algerian side CR Belouizdad defeated Tunisian giants Esperance 2-0 at home. Zakaria Draoui and Amir Sayoud scored on 35 and 80 minutes to grab a comfortable lead ahead of the return leg in Rades. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
