Mahematshena Flying Birds booked a place in the next stage of the Total Soccer Challenge KO competition. They brutally walloped Itsani Double Chiefs 4-1 at the Tshakhuma Malaria grounds on Sunday. Flying Birds made their intentions clear from the onset.

They initiated some promising moves from behind, with their midfielders dishing out some telling passes to the strikers. Their efforts did not pass without reward. Their speedy forward, Rolivhuwa Mukwevho, scored in the 18th minute. He unleashed from the corner of the box and the ball hit the woodwork and bounced across the goal line.

Double Chiefs fought back seven minutes thereafter. It was their overlapping defender, Rabelani Milandu, who made things happen. He blasted in a rocket, following a neat pass by Lutendo Ramathavha. Flying Birds were leading 2-1 at the end of the first half. Their second goal was registered in Parian Mamatsiari’s name. He found the net four minutes before the referee, Kenneth Makondo, blew the half-time whistle.

The last half saw Flying Birds pushing forward in their search for more goals. Their Rastafarian striker, Parian Mamatsiari, beat the offside trap and the keeper with a ground cutter to make it 3-1. Birds replaced Khetho Ndou with Oscar Siphuma a little later.

Double Chiefs suffered a big blow when their midfielder, Matodzi Nenweli, saw red after tackling Oscar Siphuma the rough way. Realizing that victory was certain, Birds started to entertain their fans with their dribbling skills. They scored the fourth goal later in the game via Fhatuwani Tshikukuvhe.