Highlands Park used Black Leopards as their stepping stone to the top of the log when then beat them 2-0 in their NFD First Division League match at the Makhulong Stadium in Thembisa on Saturday.
Samukelo Nkosi scored the home side's opening goal in the 18th minute. Leopards took the game to the hosts in the dying minutes of the first half, but their strikers were unlucky. Leopards' diminutive striker, Bongani Manana, could not believe his eyes when his ground cutter missed the target by inches.
Highlands Park increased the margin through Mvala Mothobi, whose banana kick was too good for the Leopards' keeper, Avhashoni Tshinuna, to handle. Highlands Park beat Black Leopards by the same margin in their first-round league match at the Thohoyandou Stadium five months ago.
Mbombela United pushed African Warriors deep into the relegation zone when they brutally walloped them 5-3 at the Kanyamazane Stadium in Nelspruit. Lebohang Moboe scored United's opening goal in the ninth minute. Thamsanga Ngema scored the Warriors' equalizer six minutes later. Bheki Malida put Mbombela back in front with a volley, but Bonginkosi Xumalo scored the equalizer for Warriors moments thereafter.
Victor Shongwe put United in the driver's seat from the penalty spot and Siyethemba Mnguni scored the fourth in the 74th minute before Mlungisi Nkosi found the fifth in the 78th minute. Mzwandile Qole scored the third for the Free State side late in the game.
In their Cape Town derby at the Athlone Stadium, Cape Town All Stars beat FC Cape Town 2-0. The pace setters, Baroka FC, strengthened their chances of gaining automatic promotion to the elite league by beating Witbank Spurs 1-0 at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium. Vasco da Gama beat Royal Eagles 2-0 at the Parow Park Stadium in Cape Town.
Moroka Swallows donated league points to Santos, who beat them 0-1 at the Athlone Stadium in Cape Town. Amazulu lost 0-1 to Milano United in Durban after a 10th-minute goal by Gregory Roelf.