Maseru — I saw it coming, said national soccer team coach Jan Brouwer yesterday after Zambia beat Lesotho 2-1 to qualify to the semi-finals of the COSAFA Castle cup. Brouwer said he was now aiming at winning the cup. "What the boys did was just to follow the way we had planned the game. We fought because we were prepared for the match," said Brouwer. But Brouwer as usual blamed Zimbabwean referee Joseph Musasa for allegedly treating Zambian players unfairly.

"This is not refereeing. I fail to understand it." Brouwer however said he would use the tournament to prepare for next year's Africa Cup finals. The game played at Maseru's Setsotho stadium started on a fair note with both sides trying not to expose themselves. But with time, the Sothos looked frightening as they frequently sneaked into

Zambia's territory through long passes. Zambia were first to launch an attack in this scintillating game which saw defender Laughter Chilembi red carded for retaliation after a crude tackle from a Sotho striker. It also saw Milanzi scooping the man-of-the- match award.

Zambia started mounting pressure from as early as the fourth minute through Dennis Lota, but despite outpacing defenders, his pass was thwarted by Lesotho's goalkeeper Thite Tselisto who grabbed the ball from Lota's legs. A minute later it was Lesotho who launched an attack but wasted an opportunity through Motlatsi Maseela who shot wide. In the 16th minute Harry Milanzi put Zambia one-up but shares the credit with Chaswe Nsofwa who caught the entire Lesotho defence on a wrong foot before unselfishly releasing the ball to the Mexican based striker who had no problem in driving the point home. Milanzi nearly increased the tally to two in the 21st minute but his shot went a few inches over the bar. Towards the end of the first half Milanzi received a yellow card for using the 'hand of God' trick. The rest of the 45 minutes saw some crude tackles with Zambia's winger Max Sinyangwe being hacked twice though he managed to play the entire 90 minutes. Zambia were up in the 48th minute through Gift Kampamba. Lesotho got their only goal in the 56th minute via Teele Ntsonyana.

In the 57th minute Zambia were one man down when left back Laughter Chilembi was red carded. Chilembi received the marching orders when in retaliation, he pushed Lebajpoe Mphongoa who had earlier hacked him. In this match, which was stopped twice after fans' riotous behaviour in protest against the referee's decisions, Zambia made two changes. After the game, Sotho coach Mafa Ramakau advised Brouwer to maintain the same team. He said he didn't know that the country was still strong despite the team's continued poor run of results. Zambian players led by Sinyangwe sang gospel songs from the stadium to the Lesotho Sun Hotel where they are staying. At this venue, a party was thrown while Zambians based here made monetary pledges amounting to S A R2,000. But Chipolopolo soccer fans association chairman Elijah Chisanga was still not impressed with the team. "A win does not mean you're a better team, when we arrive in Lusaka I'll hold a press briefing to voice our concern," said Chisanga. The semi-final draw takes place on July 21.