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The Leopards’ head coach, Mr Joel Masutha, congratulates the goal scorer, Ivan Mahangwahaya, after the game.  

Important victory for Lidoda Duvha

 

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.

Sbusiso Magaqa of Uthongathi (front) and Marks Munyai of Leopards chase the ball.

Phathutshedzo Nange of Leopards (left) and Ntwenhle Zondo of Uthongathi chase the ball.

Karabo Tshepe of Leopards is focused on the ball.

Leopards’ goal scorer, Ivan Mahangwahaya, celebrates after scoring the goal.

 

Date:12 April 2018

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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