Referee Peter Mabuza was escorted out of Newlands stadium in Cape Town on Saturday evening after Kaizer Chiefs followers bayed for his blood. He had to remain on the field for more than 10 minutes after the final whistle.

Referee Peter Mabuza was escorted out of Newlands stadium in Cape Town on Saturday evening after Kaizer Chiefs followers bayed for his blood. He had to remain on the field for more than 10 minutes after the final whistle.

Though Chiefs were beaten 1-0 by Ajax Cape Town in the MTN8 semi-final first leg, Mabuza must shoulder the blame because his performance was below par and his dubious officiating spoilt a good game.

Outraged followers of Amakhosi threw cans and plastic bottles on to the field midway in the second half after Mabuza waived play on when Ajax's right back defender, Nhlanhla Shabalala, brought Chiefs' Abia Nale down inside the box.

Mabuza had earlier, in the 62nd minute, awarded the home side a penalty after Chiefs' defender, Thabang Rooi, hacked Ajax's Thulani Serero inside the box and Dipsey Selolwane's penalty kick put the Urban Warriors 1-0 in the lead.

In the 38th minute, Mabuza blew his whistle for interval, but after consulting with the fourth official, Adbul Ebrahim, the game continued.

He repeated the same blunder again when he stopped the game a minute before the added time was completed. Ebrahim had waived his board showing that three minutes would be added after full time.

But Amakhosi should have levelled matters in the 89th minute through substitute Knowledge Musona who received a through pass from Gerald Sibeko.

Instead of chipping the ball over the fallen Ajax's keeper, Hans Vonk, Musona's shot went straight to the goalkeeper and the was deflected for a corner award.

The Urban Warriors' coach Muhsin Ertugral vowed that his charges would feature in the MTN8 final, but they have to beat Chiefs again in the second leg encounter on Saturday at Orlando Stadium.

"We are ready and we will go to Orlando Stadium knowing what to expect. It is not going to be easy for us, but we will fight. Despite our 1-0 lead, we are still underdogs and that suits us because we are not under pressure," said Ertugral.

Amakhosi coach Vermezovic Vladimir praised Ajax for their victory but was also optimistic that Chiefs will be in the final after they demolish their opponents in the second leg.

"I told my guys in the dressing room that what happened is history. They must focus and be ready for the second leg and make sure that Ajax are stopped as we want to be in the final," said Vladimir.