After struggling to collect points in their previous two matches, Black Leopards bounced back with a 2-1 victory over Venda Football Club in their Motsepe Foundation Championship clash at Thohoyandou Stadium on Sunday. The win, however, did little to change their standing, as Lidoda Duvha have already been relegated to the lower division.
Despite knowing that the club’s stay in the Motsepe Foundation Championship is coming to an end this season, co-coach Duncan Lechesa said the victory remained important, particularly with the possibility of off-field developments affecting final standings.
He noted that end-of-season protests and disputes are common and said this campaign may be no different.
Lechesa added that Black Leopards could have scored at least three goals in the first half, but strikers Mwape Musonda, Donald Mudau and Tshenzhelani Radzhadzhi were guilty of poor finishing under pressure. He said he took comfort in the fact that the team managed to secure all three points.
VFC coach Clinton Larsen felt his side had done enough to get a result but was let down by missed chances and bad luck.
VFC took the lead through Lerato Mofokeng, who headed in from a Tshepo Mofokeng corner, before Leopards responded with goals from Mwape Musonda and Goodman Chirwa to turn the match around.
Leopards will wrap up their season against Lerumo Lions on Sunday. A win would take them to 31 points, while the University of Pretoria, currently just above the relegation zone, sit on 32 points.