Leopards embarrass Dikwena in opener

A well-worked strike by Phathutshedzo Nange put Black Leopards in the driver’s seat in the opening match of the promotion/relegation playoffs at a packed, buzzing Thohoyandou Stadium yesterday.

Leopards dictated terms in the 1-0 win over Platinum Stars, who had their place in the play-offs decided by the PSL only yesterday.

The combination of Meshack Maphangule and Joseph Mhlongo up front kept the Dikwena defence busy for the better part of the match.

Though the first half was all action but no goals, things changed in the second period.

Mhlongo delivered an inviting cross to Maphangule, who flicked the ball to Nange to score in the 53rd minute.

Stars lacked drive and enthusiasm, with striker Bonginkosi Ntuli ploughing a lone furrow up front.

He was isolated and hardly threatened the Lidoda Duvha defence.

Stars were initially relegated from the Premiership but dramatically got a lifeline when a Safa arbitrator found Ajax Cape Town guilty of fielding an “ineligible” Tendai Ndoro and subsequently docked seven points from the Capetonians, leaving them in last place on the log, which saw them demoted outright.

Leopards hope to build on their victory when they travel to Jomo Cosmos for their second match of the round-robin contest at Vosloorus Stadium on Sunday (3pm).