PSL Promotion/Relegation play-offs
Result: Stellenbosch 1-3 Black Leopards
Date: 14 June 2017
Venue: Athlone Stadium
Black Leopards kept their promotion hopes alive, after a brace from Mwape Musonda helped claim a 3-1 win over Stellenbosch FC at the Athlone Stadium.
It was an evenly contested affair in the opening 15 minutes, but neither side could carve out a clear-cut opening at goal.
The game's first real opening arrived after 29 minutes when Leopards' Phatutshedzo Nange's effort from 20-yards sailed inches over the crossbar.
Leopards eventually broke the deadlock 10 minutes later when Mwape Musonda fired into the far corner after Edward More parried a shot into the path of the striker.
The visitors managed to bag a second goal on the stroke of halftime when Musonda slotted into an empty net from close range, following an error from Matthew Rowell.
The score remained 2-0 the visitors as the sides entered the halftime break.
Sammy Troughton introduced veteran striker Mame Niang for defender, Jason Skippers at the start of the second half as they looked for a way back into the clash.
Stellenbosch did carved out their first chance of the game in the 49th minute, but Rotshidzwa Muleka was on hand to keep out Rowell's glancing
header.
The home side pulled a goal back in the 65th minute in controversial circumstances
Stellenbosch returned the ball to Leopards, who put the ball out for an injured player. However, Petrus Shitembi's kick back to the visitors bounced over Muleka and sailed into the net, 1-2.
However, Leopards responded in the 73rd minute as Mumuni Abubakar bundled the ball home at the near post, following a corner from Siphelele Ntshangase, 1-3.
The home side looked more threatening in the final stages of the second half as they looked to cut the deficit, however the Leopards defence managed to stand firm to hold on to the 3-1 win.
Leopards will now face Baroka FC in the final play-off game on the weekend, with the winner securing their spot in the Absa Premiership next season, though Leopards will need to score three unanswered goals or more, with the lesser goal average at present.
Here's how they lined up:
Stellenbosch: More, De Goede, Skippers, Booysen, Rowell, Webber, Dien, Mabua, Mekoa, Moroole, Shitembi
Leopards: Muleka, Munyai, Mabotja, Munganga, Ndou, Abubakar, Nange, Maphangule, Musonda, Ntshangase, Zimu.
