Home defeat for Black Leopards

Lebohang Mabotja of Leopards (right) and Morgan Van Rooyen of Santos are focused on the ball.

Home defeat for Black Leopards

Black Leopards suffered their first home defeat under the guidance of Coach Sello Choekoe, when they lost 1-2 to Santos in their NFD match at the Thohoyandou Stadium on Sunday.

Leopards created numerous scoring chances within the first 20 minutes of the game, but their strikers were unlucky. Realizing that the home side were all over them, Santos decided to abandon their positions and packed themselves at the back and relied on counter attacks.

The unexpected happened in the 27^th minute, when Santos scored their opening goal through Thabani Mthembu. He finished off a rebound after Ricardo Skippers’ attempt. Leopards continued to dominate proceedings, with their strikers shooting wide from close range time after time.

Leopards introduced Ruggert Nyundu and Jonathan King for Phathutshedzo Nange and Katlego Molomo respectively early in the last half. The keeper of Santos, Mark Blignaut, was cautioned with a card for wasting time. Blignaut held on to the ball for far too long and the referee, Mr Zolile Mthetho, started to do the countdown before flashing yellow. Jonathan King lived up to the fans’ expectations as he continuously pumped dangerous crosses to the front-runners.

The visitors from Cape Town increased the margin in the 68^th minute. Shaun Sherman forced his way through the defence of Leopards and beat the keeper with a ground cutter. Leopards completed their substitution chances by replacing Mziwokuthula Zimu with Mpho Ramatapa two minutes afterwards.

Leopards’ solitary goal came in the 78^th minute. Thembisani Nevhulamba was on target with a ground cutter, following scramble within the box.

Themba Mabuyango of Leopards (left) and Mhlengi Sgwebela of Santos have lost sight for the ball.

Shaun Sopio of Santos controls the ball, with Katlego Molomo of Leopards is on his heels.

Lebohang Mabotja of Leopards kicks the ball.

Date:20 May 2016

By: Frank Mavhungu

Frank is a Human Resources Manager at the Department of Public Works in Limpopo. He is the longest serving correspondent of the Mirror, having joined us at the end of 1990. He mainly writes sports reports and resides at Tsianda Village. In 2004, Frank won the National Castle League Award, an award for the best reporter in the SAB league in South Africa.

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