Kitwe — CHAMPIONS Zimbabwe will face Lesotho in the Cosafa Cup semi-finals after the Crocodiles overcame Angola in a quarter-final match at Nkana Stadium here yesterday.

The Warriors were the first team to book a place in the last four in Cosafa Cup 2013 when they edged past Malawi in a dramatic encounter at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka on Saturday.

They were soon joined in the last four by South Africa's Bafana Bafana who overcame Namibia in another quarter-final tie at the same venue.

After the first quarter-finals double header the tournament then shifted base from Lusaka to Nkana Stadium yesterday with the Warriors closely following proceedings in the first match at the venue which decided the identity of their opponents in Wednesday's semi-finals at Levy Mwanawasa stadium in Ndola.

Coach Klaus Dieter Pagels and his men watched the match after flying in from Lusaka in the morning.

Lesotho rallied from behind to draw level after man-of-the-match Cristovao Paciencia had thrust the Palancas Negras into a 25th minute lead with a blistering long-range shot.

Tale Thapelo then brought an otherwise wasteful Lesotho back into contention when he scored the equaliser five minutes from time to set-up a frenetic end to the game.

Lesotho, surprise Group B winners then prevailed in the penalty shoot-out that seemed to be going according to script until Angola's Mano had his penalty saved by Lesotho goalkeeper Liteboho Mokhehle and Katleho Moleko held his nerve to convert his effort and send the Crocodiles through.

The Crocoldies have been impressive so far and won US$15 000 for emerging the top scorers in the group stages and Pagels would have to be wary of their threat.

The Warriors might have charmed many neutrals with their fine passing game in the opening period of their game against the Flames but by his own admission, Pagels knows there is still a lot that needs to be done especially in the attacking third where his team lacked the cutting edge.

"We need to improve in attack and make sure we take the chances that we create. The players also seemed to be afraid to make mistakes in the second half and they resorted to the long ball," Pagels said.

While their build-ups looked promising from the back, the Warriors continue to be slow in their transition into the attacking third where Tendai Ndoro, surprisingly employed as a lone striker for much of the game clearly cried out for support on most occasions with his teammates slow to join him in attack.

Despite Malawi being reduced to 10 men shortly before the break, the Warriors still seemed to be content with defending their 14th minute lead which came via skipper Masimba Mambare and only introduced a second striker -- Lot Chiwunga -- for Harare City midfielder Silas Songani after 68 minutes.

There were questions too about Pagels' decision to throw in rookie Nicholas Guyo ahead of the experienced Ali Sadiki or even bustling Buffaloes forward Prosper Matizanadzo at a time when his team clearly needed a second goal against a fighting Malawi and could have done better with a more seasoned player. Guyo might have shown potential in February but his inclusion in the Warriors continues to raise eyebrows given that he has rarely found game time at Monomotapa.

But Pagels is from a different philosophy and does not believe in current form as one of the criteria for choosing his players, arguing that "as long as he is training with his club and suits what we want to try and achieve". The German coach, who said he drew a lot of positives from their performance against Malawi, was also happy that his steam finally found a way to win and reckoned that they could only build from the result.

"These boys needed this win for the sake of their confidence. They are a good side but they have been receiving a lot of criticism because of the results.

"I think this is the turning point for them and now they can start a new culture of winning instead of losing," Pagels said.

After a nightmarish show in a World Cup qualifier at home against Egypt, Chicken Inn defender Felix Chindungwe was of rock in the heart of defence and combined well with Eric Chipeta of Hwange, Hardlife

Zvirekwi and Ocean Mushure to provide cover for goalkeeper Maxwell Nyamupanedengu.

The star of the Warriors show was, however, diminutive Monoz forward Ronald Chitiyo whose close ball control and dribbling gave Flames defenders a torrid time and forced Malawi coach Tom Saintfiet to reshuffle his rearguard.

Chitiyo was named man-of-the-match and his coach felt "this was just the beginning because he is going to get better as the tournament goes on".

The Warriors midfielder is on the wanted list of Ajax Cape Town where he impressed after a trial stint but indications from the Urban Warriors was that the club had already exhausted its foreign quota when Chitiyo passed his trials.

But with Tafadzwa Rusike having been offloaded and Khama Billiat set to leave Ajax Cape Town, Chitiyo might just use the Cosafa Cup to remind the Urban Warriors about his talent.

Dynamos' Devon Chafa also worked his socks off in a defensive midfield role and Pagels will be hoping that he continues with such form in the remainder of the tournament.

Angola . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . (1) 1

Lesotho . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) 1

(Lesotho won 5-4 on penalties)