Leopards Mark Top Flight Return With Victory In Limpopo Derby

Absa Premiership 

Result: Black Leopards 1-0 Polokwane City

Date: 04 August 2018

Venue: Peter Mokaba Stadium

Black Leopards secured three points on their return to the Absa Premiership with a 1-0 win over fellow Limpopo outfit Polokwane City.

The hosts got their campaign off to a fine start as they took the lead after just 12 minutes thanks to a strike from Karabo Tshepe.

Rise and Shine looked to hit back straight away but Water Musona failed to hit the target from close range after being played in by Banele Sikhondze.

The visitors enjoyed most of the possession as the half went on but they were unable to carve out serious openings in the final third.

That proved to be the trend for the rest of the half as Leopards went into the break leading by the solitary strike.

Polokwane were managing to create chances in the second half but they were let down by their finishing, most notably Musona in the 60th minute.

With time running out, Polokwane introduced Salulani Phiri and Simphiwe Hlongwane for the final 15 minutes of the encounter.

However, Rise and Shine were unable to bypass the Leopards as  Jozef Vukuzic had to settle for a loss in his debut game in charge of Polokwane.

Here's how they lined up:

Leopards: Muleka, Ndou, Mashoena, Munganga, Ndlovu, Nange, Mudau, Nene, Musonda, Tshepe, Mhlongo.

Subs: Masia, Mahangwahaya, Zulu, Hlongwane, Mokoena.

Polokwane: Chigova, Sikhosana, Hlongwane, Motloung, Mbonani, Seabi, Ramagalela, Phiri, Musona J. Maluleke, Sikhondze.

Subs: Ndlovu, Ravhuali, Nkili, Manaka, Miya, W. Maluleke, Baloyi.