Advertisement

Downs hang on to defeat Leopards

football02 October 2019 19:24| © Backpage TXT
Share
article image
Themba Zwane © Getty Images

Mamelodi Sundowns resisted a second-half fight-back from Black Leopards to claim a 2-1 away win at an atmospheric Thohoyandou Stadium in Limpopo on Wednesday evening.

The Brazilians move up to third place on the Absa Premiership table thanks to the result, which was secured by an opening strike from Themba Zwane and an own goal from Chris Katjiukua.

The league champions are five points adrift of log leaders Kaizer Chiefs, but have two games in hand. Lidoda Duvha, meanwhile, remain just four points clear of the bottom.

Sundowns found their rhythm from early on and by the seventh minute Leopards needed goalkeeper Jonas Mendes to make an excellent save to keep out a goal-bound effort from Themba Zwane.

The Guinea-Bissau shot-stopper made another fine save to deny Hlompho Kekana from close range a few minutes later, but there was only so much he could do to keep the visitors’ rampant attack at bay.

On 25 minutes ‘Downs deservedly went into the lead. Jose Ali Meza did some excellent work to shake off a marker down the right flank before playing in a cross from the by line.

Zwane arrived late into the six-yard area and poked the ball home ahead of a helpless Mendes for 1-0.

The Brazilians continued to boss the game and went into halftime with a 2-0 lead, thanks to an own goal from Chris Katjiukua in the 44th minute.

The defender stretched out to try and intercept a right-flank cross from Gaston Sirino, but only succeeded in directing the ball beyond his goalkeeper.

Leopards made a change at halftime by replacing Donashano Malama with Tshwarelo Bereng, and the hosts (after a couple of scares in defence) got a goal back just before the hour mark: Mwape Musonda provided a sweet finish from the edge of the box which gave Denis Onyango no chance.

The goal sparked Lidoda Duvha into life and they began to create scoring chances, including another for Musonda in the 65th minute in which he cracked an acrobatic volley just wide of the target.

Sundowns regained a sense of control in the game and should have restored a two-goal lead in the 76th minute, when substitute Lebohang Maboe was presented with a fine scoring chance, but the striker sent a low shot wide of the mark – much to the frustration of coach Pitso Mosimane.

Yet the Tshwane side was able to see out the remainder of the game without too much pressure on their defence, securing them an important three-point haul just before the international break.

Sundowns will return to Premiership action on 23 October when they host Highlands Park, while Leopards will be away to SuperSport United two days later in their next league clash.

Black Leopards (0) 1 (Musonda 59’)

Mamelodi Sundowns (2) 2 (Zwane 25’, Katjiukua 44’ og)

Leopards: Mendes, Mudau, Katjiukua, Masia, P. Zulu, Phala (Malajila 83’), Mokoena, Andrianarimanana (Tshepe 60’), Malama (Bereng 46’), Kapinga, Musonda

Sundowns: Onyango, Ngcongca, Madisha, Lebusa, Lakay, Morena, Jali, Kekana, Zwane (Langerman 81’), Sirino (Seabi 87’), Meza (Maboe 72’)

Advertisement