Malawi reached the final of the Cosafa Castle Cup for the first time on Saturday by edging past their arch rivals Zambia in controversial fashion in front of a capacity 60,000-strong crowd at the Chichiri stadium.
Striker Essau Kanyenda scored from the spot in the 66th minute after winning a penalty in a challenge with defender Sashi Chalwe.
Both players tugged at the ball but Kanyenda appeared to dive and win the sympathy of Lesotho referee Paul Phomane.
But the goal was only as much as Malawi deserved after a better performance in a gritty match against the neighbours, who have long dominated them in regional competition.
Kanyenda grabbed the goal from the spot
Malawi had the better of the exchanges and set up more shots at goal, although woeful
shooting kept the match tightly contested until the final whistle.
Zambia, who were missing star midfielder Gift Kampamba, looked rattled by Malawi`s tenacious tackling and fitness, a legacy of their recent trip to England where they prepared for Saturday`s semifinal with three matches against club opposition.
Rotson Kilambe was sent off in stoppage time at the end of the game for a wild tackle as tempers flared under the tension.
The defeat ended Zambia`s hopes of winning the trophy for the a record third time and ensured that this year`s southern African championship will produce as first time winner, as the two other semifinalists, South Africa and Swaziland, have neither reached a previous final.
Bafana Bafana host the Swazis in the second semi-final in Polokwane on 24 August.
