Result: Black Leopards 2-1 Kaizer Chiefs
Date: 26 May 2021
Venue: Thohoyandou Stadium
Kaizer Chiefs' top-eight aspirations took another knock after a 2-1 loss to relegation-threatened Black Leopards on Wednesday afternoon.
Chiefs head coach Gavin Hunt made four changes from the loss to Simba, as Happy Mashiane, Nkosingiphile Ngcobo, Lazarous Kambole and Darrel Matsheke were handed starts, while Bruce Bvuma kept his place between the sticks.
Amakhosi had a bright start after Leonardo Castro opened the scoring in the tenth minute with a powerful into a gaping net after goalkeeper Jonas Mendes had kept out Mashiane's strike.
Sanele Mathenjwa came close to snatching the equaliser for the hosts six minutes before the break with a free header inside the box that sailed slightly over the bar.
Soon after, Tiklas Thutlwa levelled matters for Lidoda Duvha on the stroke of half-time with a tap in at the back post from Mashoene's cross.
Hunt's men were fired up after break and came close to restoring their lead ten minutes inside the second stanza after Ngcobo's free-kick brushed off Castro's back and deflected onto the post.
Leopards responded with a tactical change two minutes later as Tebogo Makobela replaced Ethen Sampson in a straight swap at right-back while on the hour-mark, Amakhosi brought on Reeve Frosler in place of Mashiane.
Wit the game opening up, Thutlwa gave Lidoda Duvha the lead four minutes later with a free header inside the six-yard box after a cross by Makobela to complete his brace.
Chiefs made a double change in the last 18 minutes, as Anthony Akumu replaced Macheke for fresh legs in midfield with Sabelo Radebe came on for Kambole.
However, Leopards were able on to for the win, which saw them cut the deficit behind 15th-placed Chippa United to three points while Amakhosi remain in 11th spot.
Leopards: 1. Mendes, 43. Sampson, 32. Mashoene, 29. Masia, 2. Gyimah, 15. Maluleke, 6. Mthethwa, 36. Thutlwa, 19. Karuru, 37. Mathenjwa, 4. Khutlang.
Subs: 32. Muleka, 27. Makobela, 33. Khumalo, 25. Mokoena, 5. Abubakar, 12. Masalesa, 31. Ndlovu , 24. Douhadji, 30. Anas.
Chiefs: 44. Bvuma, 4. Cardoso, 3. Mathoho, 30. Ngezana, 22. Zulu, 43. Matsheke, 37. Ngcobo, 25. Parker, 19. Mashiane, 7. Kambole 8. Castro.
Subs: 40. Akpeyi, 2. Mphahlele, 5. Agay, 6. Baccus, 39. Frosler, 20. Sasman, 36. Ntiya-Ntiya, 33. Radebe.
