A substitute, Ivan Mahangwahaya, scored the only goal and earned three important points for Black Leopards in their National First Division League match against Uthongathi FC at the Thohoyandou Stadium on Saturday.
The visitors from KZN demonstrated that they would be happy with a draw and they played defensive football from the onset. The home side missed two clear chances in the first 20 minutes. Their overlapping left back, Khuliso Mudau, received a neat pass from Meshack Maphangule just outside the box in the 8th minute and shot wide with the stranded keeper already beaten. Moments later Phathutshedzo Nange initiated a solo move from the middle of the park before unleashing a ground cutter in the 25-meter area. The ball hit the Uthongathi wall and landed outside the field of play for a corner kick.
The only time Uthongathi threatened to score in the first half was when Andile Khumalo went loose from the right corner and dished in a square pass. As if all his team mates were hypnotized, they watched the ball going pass the goal mouth to the other wing.
Realizing that their scoring machine, Mwape Musonda, was out of form, the Leopards' coach, Mr Joel Masutha, replaced him with Ivan Mahangwahaya nine minutes into the second half. Uthongathi responded by effecting two changes to their starting line-up.
To prove that Uthongathi were happy with a draw, they started to apply delaying tactics in the opening minutes of the last half. Their keeper, Edward More, claimed to have sustained an injury on five occasions.
A scramble within the box in the 84th minute gave birth to the Leopards' all-important goal. Ivan Mahangwahaya gave the ball a final touch. Uthongathi started to play attacking football soon afterwards, but it was too late.