Result: Highlands Park 2-1 Black Leopards
Date: 05 January 2020
Venue: Makhulong Stadium
Cavin Johnson began his reign at Black Leopards with a 2-1 defeat to Highlands Park in Sunday afternoon's Absa Premiership action.
The Lions of the North made only two alterations from their win over Golden Arrows, as Reneilwe Letsholonyane and Mokete Mogaila got starting berths at the expense of Limbikani Mzava and Wayde Jooste. Meanwhile, Johnson also made two changes, withTshwarelo Bereng and Lifa Hlongwane startinf ahead of Thuso Phala and Themba Ndlovu.
After a quiet opening, Owen Da Gama's charges should have been ahead in the 25th minute after Peter Shalulile raced clear on goal and rounded Lidoda Duvha goalkeeper Jonas Mendes but the Namibian hit the crossbar with the net gaping.
Three minutes later, Mvala eventually broke the deadlock for Highlands with a deflected shot from the left side of the box after Leopards failed to clear their lines from a corner.
Johnson's troops almost pulled a goal back in the 31st minute after Hlongwane's run on the left side of the box caught Highlands shot-stopper out of his goal but the shot was cleared off the line by Mvala.
However, the hosts doubled their lead five minutes later after Mogaila pounced on rebound from Letshololanye's saved effort inside the box to fire into the far corner.
Da Gama was already closing shop after the hour mark, as he introduced defensive midfielder Mlungisi Mbunjana for Letsholonyane while Johnson threw on Mogakolodi Ngele in place of Hlongwane as the visitors went in search of a goal.
However, Highlands continued to threaten going forward and they nearly netted a third goal with eight minutes remaining but were unlucky as Lindokuhle Mbatha hit the crossbar.
Leopards were handed a lifeline with a penalty in the last minute that was converted by Mwape Musona but it was too little too late, as the hosts clinched a 2-1 win to move up to fifth spot.
Subs: Etafia, 34. Motsepe, Banda, 17. Ramagalela, Mbunjana, Motlafi, Ndoro.
Leopards: 30. Mendes, 8. Matlaba, 13. Zulu, 33. Katjiukua, 2. Gyimah, 25. Mokoena, 27. Ng'ambi, 15. Bereng, 11. Musonda, 17. Hlongwane, 12. Kapinga.
Subs: 32, Muleka, 29. Masia, 6. Mudau, 5. Abubakar, 9. Andrianarimanana, 31. Ndlovu, 20. Ngele.
