It’s all over bar the shouting for Leopards
ATHLETICS
EAA Premium meeting, Andujar – 7.40pm on SS7 LIVE
CRICKET
Test Series buildup: England v Pakistan 2nd Test – 11am; and 11.55am on SS2 LIVE SOCCER
Cosafa Cup: Angola v Malawi – 5.15pm on SS4 LIVE
GOLF
European Tour: Italian Open – 10.30am on SS5 LIVE
PGA Tour: Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide – 8.30pm on SS1 LIVE
US Women's Open – 9pm on SS5 LIVE RUGBY
Vodacom Super: Highlanders v Hurricanes – 9.30am on SS1 LIVE
TENNIS
Roland Garros: singles third round – 10.55am on SS6 LIVE A HEAVING Thohoyandou Stadium roared Black Leopards back into the Premier Soccer League for the first time in a half-decade with the Limpopo team’s dramatic 1-0 promotionrelegation playoff win against Jomo Cosmos on Wednesday.
Leopards went to an unassailable eight points to guarantee the Limpopo team’s return to the PSL.
The remaining game between Cosmos and already-relegated Platinum Stars‚ both on two points‚ at Vosloorus Stadium tomorrow is academic as neither can win the group to either be promoted or steer clear of relegation.
Leopards won in front of a packed Thohoyandou Stadium‚ their supporters out in force hoping to view their team’s return to the PSL first-hand.
The final whistle produced stirring scenes of celebration on the pitch and in the stands.
Leopards had spent five years in the National First Division (NFD)‚ during which time they perennially reached the promotion playoffs and fallen at that last hurdle. They had spent nine seasons in the PSL before their relegation as the lastplaced team in 2012-13.
Cosmos finished third in the NFD and Leopards second‚ 19 points behind automatically promoted runaway champions Highlands Park.
Platinum Stars reached the playoffs finishing second-last in the PSL‚ though only after Ajax Cape Town had points deducted over the Tendai Ndoro eligibility saga.
The crowd was a factor in a focused‚ keyed up Leopards muscling past Jomo Sono’s Cosmos. But Lidoda Duvha‚ structured by prominent Limpopo coach Joel Masutha and spearheaded by their big Zambian striker Mwape Musonda‚ have also just been the best of the three teams in the playoffs.
If anything the pressure resulted in a somewhat nervy display from Leopards on Wednesday‚ though in the end they did enough for a solid victory.
Cosmos‚ in the second half especially‚ made Leopards fight for their promotion.
Leopards scored the goal that produced a roar from the crowd that shook Thohoyandou when Mwape Musonda’s cross from the left found Karabo Tshepe free of his markers to strike a first-time volley.
Playoff results May 16: Black Platinum Stars 0
May 20: Jomo Cosmos 2 Black Leopards 2
May 23: Platinum Stars 0 Jomo Cosmos 0
May 26: Platinum Black Leopards 2
Wednesday: Black Leopards 1 Jomo Cosmos 0 Fixture: Tomorrow: Jomo Cosmos v Platinum Stars Leopards Stars 1 2