Lions of the North take down Leopards
HIGHLANDS Park made a winning start to 2020 after scoring a 2-1 win over Black Leopards in their Absa Premiership match at the Makhulong Stadium in Tembisa yesterday.
The match was off to a rousing start as both teams set out with pace. There was a greater sense of urgency in Highlands’ ranks and Leopards’ defence conceded a third minute corner which was effectively dealt with.
Highlands midfielder Lindokuhle Mbatha made a strong run down the middle in the eighth minute. After slipping past three defenders unleashed a shot at goal but Jonas Mendes, Leopards’ Guinea-Bissauan goalkeeper, coolly collected to avert danger.
Namibian Peter Shalulile should have opened the scoring for Highlands but was denied by the crossbar.
Highlands finally cracked the opening goal after a hectic goalmouth melee in which Leopards failed to clear the ball after three attempts. The ball eventually spilt invitingly for Mothobi Mvala who cracked a low drive through the packed defence and the ball went in off the upright after a deflection after 28 minutes.
Mvala was in the picture again three minutes later when he cleared the ball off the goal line after his goalkeeper Marlon Heugh was caught out of position.
Shalulile engineered Highlands’ next goal in the 36th minute after he did well to prevent the ball from crossing the by-line. Once he warded off the attentions of Leopards’ defence, he reeled in a goalmouth cross which was well met by Reneilwe Letsholonyane but Mendes pushed his scoring effort clear. However, Mokete Mogai pounced on the stray ball for his side’s second goal.
With two goals in the bag, Highlands showed far more composure as they dealt with Leopards’ fightback before half-time.
Three minutes from the final whistle, Leopards were thrown a lifeline when Themba Ndlovu was fouled in the box. Zambian Musonda Mwape made no mistake from the spot for a 2-1 scoreline.
In the remaining time, a tense finish played out as Leopards came close to snatching an equalizer.