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Lifa Hlungwane of Cosmos with the ball, with Marks Munyai ready to pounce on any mistake.

Leopards and Cosmos in draw

 

Black Leopards continued with their mission to be promoted to the PSL when they played to a 2-all draw with Jomo Cosmos in their NFD promotional playoff match at the Vosloorus Stadium on Sunday.

Cosmos took the game to the visitors from Limpopo from the first whistle, forcing the opposition's defence to abandon their positions and pack themselves at the back. Leopards threatened to score in the fourth minute. Their left-footed striker, Joseph Mhlongo, went loose from the far-left corner after beating two defenders in a row and unleashed a powerful shot from the edge of the box. The Cosmos keeper, King Ndlovu, braved the shot and pulled off a brilliant save.

Leopards were the first to open their account. Their diminutive striker, Nwape Musonda, found the net in the 12th minute. Musonda was injured three weeks ago after colliding with a Jomo Cosmos player in the last league match of the season.

Cosmos found the equalizer via Siphenathi Laqwela in the 17th minute after Leopards keeper Rofhiwa Muleka mishandled the ball and it crossed the goal line. Leopards nearly increased the margin in the 24th minute, when Meschack Maphangule went loose from the right corner and dished out a square pass to Karabo Tshepe. He fumbled until he lost possession.

Leopards came back strongly in the second half. They replaced Meshack Maphangule, Karabo Tshepe and Joseph Mhlongo with Ivan Mahangwahaya, Xolani Ndlovu and Thivhavhudzi Ndou respectively. The home team responded by introducing Lifa Hlongwane, Tebogo Makobela and Laqwela Siphenathi.

Leopards’ keeper, Rofhiwa Muleka, was reduced to a mere spectator in the last 25 minutes. At that stage, Leopards were all over Cosmos. Although Leopards enjoyed more ball possession in the second half, their strikers were not lucky enough to find the net.

Nwape Musonda of Leopards completed his brace and scored his team's second goal when he hooked the ball in, following a scramble within the box.

Leopards played defensive football after scoring the second goal in a bid to protect the point. Cosmos overlapping defender Thato Ligwati finally scored the equalizer in the dying minutes. He headed home, following a square pass from Ishmael Ngudi.

Leopards' Marks Munyai clears the ball, with Denzil Haoseb running behind him.

 

Date:24 May 2018

By: Kaizer Nengovhela

Kaizer Nengovhela started writing stories for Limpopo Mirror in 2000. Prior to that he had a five year stint at Phala-Phala FM as sports presenter. In 2005 Kaizer received an award from the province's premier as Best Sports Presenter. The same year he was also nominated as Best Sports Reporter by the Makhado Municipality. Kaizer was awarded the Mathatha Tsedu award in 2014.

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