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Leopards down AmaZulu
05/05/2007 20:05 - (SA)
Johannesburg - The Black Leopards added to AmaZulu's relegation play-off threat when they beat the visitors 2-1 in a Castle Premiership game played at a packed Thohoyandou Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Dennis Lota put AmaZulu in the lead in the 41st minute but Leopards fought back in the second half as Myron Shongwe and Walter Ramulondi netted in the 50th and 87th minute respectively.
In the ninth minute Leopards' industrious midfielder Jabu Maluleke played an inch-perfect pass to Shongwe on the edge of the box, but Leopards' leading goalscorer (with five goals) somehow misplaced his shot from only six yards out.
Shongwe could have made up for his atrocious miss after 35 minutes but again squandered a chance to put his team in the lead.
A well placed cross from Maluleke on the right found the striker in space, and again from six yards out, he headed past the goalmouth with only Tshepo Moetsoeneng to beat.
The hosts were made to pay for their misses as AmaZulu slowly worked their way upfield. Quick thinking by John "Shoes" Moshoeu released Lucky Mzizi on the left who quickly fed the ball to Kagiso Senamela who set-up Lota for the first goal of the game.
The former Orlando Pirates striker was unmarked at the far post and did well to control the ball and then blast it past the advancing Mamshudu Mamphitha.
With only four minutes to half-time the partisan Leopards crowd went silent and Leopards coach Boebie Solomons looked frustrated on the bench.
AmaZulu fought hard
Five minutes after the restart Shongwe redeemed himself when he equalised for the hosts, much to the delight of the home fans. A cross from the left found the striker who only needed two touches to beat Moetseneng.
Ironically, this opportunity was much more difficult than the previous chances he wasted. The relief was evident on the striker's face.
AmaZulu fought hard to get in the lead again but found it difficult against a resurgent Leopards team. The hosts upped the tempo as they went in search of a goal, with Maluleke leading the way taking long-range shots and putting in good crosses for the strikers.
Despite his man-of-the-match performance Solomons substituted Maluleke with only eight minutes to go, introducing Christopher Netshidzivhe much to the dismay of the crowd.
The change proved to work for the Cape Town-born coach as Netshidzivhe set-up Ramulondi for the winner. The substitute whipped in a cross from the right and Ramulondi rose above his marker to head home.
Moetsoeneng sat dejected on the turf, probably contemplating the tough task that awaits them now. Usuthu now have to rely on Mamelodi Sundowns beating Benoni Premier United and then have to win their last game of the season against Ajax Cape Town in the Mother City if they want to remain in the Premiership.
AmaZulu have 28 points, one more than Benoni who occupy the relegation play-off spot.
Leopards are now 11th on the log with 36 points.
- SAPA
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