Leopards’ Thutlwa slays Chiefs
TIKLAS Thutlwa may have been relatively unknown prior to yesterday’s game but he will now forever be known in Thohoyandou as ‘The Amakhosi Slayer’ as his brace breathed fresh life in Leopards’ bid to stave off automatic relegation.
Thutlwa, 22, had not scored in the Premiership before, but struck either side of half-time to propel his side to a thrilling 2-1 victory and most importantly earn his side three invaluable league points.
The Limpopo-based club are still rooted to the bottom of the table but they are clearly not going down without a fight as they are now just three points behind their nearest rivals Chippa United.
The bottom Premiership club go straight down to the GladAfrica Championship, while the 15th-placed team get another opportunity to stay up via the promotion/relegation play-offs.
Chiefs, however, remain a shadow of the team that progressed to the CAF Champions League semifinals when they return to the humdrum of domestic football.
Chiefs took an early lead when Leonardo Castro reacted first inside the Leopards box to drill the ball home and give Amakhosi hope of a victory that would have lifted them into the top half of the standings.
However, it was that man Thutlwa who was destined to get his name on the scoresheet when he deservedly levelled matters on the stroke of half-time with a tap-in at the far post after a good cross from Tsheamo Mashoene.
Thutlwa’s second goal was even better after he headed home from close range after being teed up by Tebogo Makobela.
Chiefs had their opportunities but the woodwork denied Castro, and some superb goalkeeping from Jonas Mendes kept Bernard Parker and Sabelo Radebe at bay in the closing stages.