GABORONE, May 25 (AFP) - Botswana goalkeeper Modiri Marumo was sent off during a Castle Cup penalty shootout which Malawi won 4-1 to reach the semi-finals Sunday.
After being cautioned for time wasting before Malawi converted their third spot kick, Marumo reacted to a pat on the shoulder from opposite number Philip Nyasulu by punching him in the face and got a red card.
Botswana missed their next kick and when Malawi striker Ganizani Malunga drilled his effort past defender-cum-goalkeeper Michael Mogaladi a dramatic comeback by the visiting Flames was complete.
The match finished 1-1 after regulation time with midfielder Masego Ntshingane putting the Zebras ahead after 21 minutes on a hot, cloudless afternoon and striker Moses Chavula levelling in the 86th minute.
Swaziland host Madagascar, holders South Africa entertain Zimbabwe and Zambia welcome Mozambique during July in the other quarter-finals of the Southern Africa championship.
Much hinged on the result for Malawi and their English coach, Alan Gillet, as the national football association said a planned training camp and friendly matches in England were dependent on eliminating Botswana.
It was a game of constrasting halves with Marumo and Nyasulu constantly busy during the first while fewer chances were created in an injury-riddled second that lasted 56 minutes.
United States-based Ntshingane struck with a dipping, left-foot shot that caught Nyasulu napping as it flew into the corner of the net and unmarked Chavula equalised through a shot that took a deflection off Mogaladi.
The result ended a Botswana revival under Serb coach Vesselin Jelusic that produced five victories in six matches while Gillet entered the cup tie with a modest record of three draws and three losses.