Black Leopards will not take part in the quarter-final stage of the Telkom KO Competition. They were booted out of the prestigious competition by Kaizer Chiefs.
Chief won the match 5-3. It finished at 1-1 and Chiefs gained the upper hand in the penalty shoot-out.
The match was played at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg last Sunday. Unlike in their previous league matches where they would sit back and relax throughout the first half and take the game to the opponents in the last 45 minutes, Leopards were firing on all cylinders from the onset.
That forced the Chiefs' defenders to perform overtime duties throughout the first half. Lidoda Duvha's bulldozer striker, Mwape Musonda, soon realized that it was not his day when he missed a sitter in the 14th minute. He received a neat pass from Alton Kapinga and hesitated for far too long to unleash and ultimately lost possession.
The visitors from Thohoyandou were the first to blow the trumpet. Their playmaker, Phathutshedzo Nange, received a brilliant pass from Joseph Mhlongo and dribbled past two defenders before beating the keeper with a half volley. The ball hit the crossbar and bounced across the goal line. Leopards enjoyed the lead until the end of the first half.
Chiefs introduced Kabelo Mahlasela at the expense of Philani Zulu six minutes into the last half. They replaced Gustavo Paez with Ryan Moon moments thereafter.
Moon combined well with Khama Billiat at the forefront. Chiefs found the equalizer through Hendrick Ekstein in the 64th minute. He forced his way through the defence of Leopards and beat the keeper with a half volley.
Leopards replaced Joseph Mhlongo, Mwape Musonda and Alton Kapinga with Tumelo Khutlang, Themba Ndlovu and Karabo Tshepe later in the game. The score line remained unchanged until the end of both the regulation and extra time. The winner was determined through penalty shootout. Chiefs scored four from the white spot while Leopards converted only two.