Result: Black Leopards 1-3 Baroka
Date: 27 October 2020
Venue: Thohoyandou Stadium
Black Leopards poor start to the DStv Premiership season continued after suffering a 3-1 loss to Baroka FC in the Limpopo derby on Tuesday night.
New Leopards coach Patrick Aussems made four changes from the defeat against SuperSport United, as goalkeeper King Ndlovu was recalled in goal alongside first starts for new recruits Rodrick Kabwe, Tebogo Makobela and Tebogo Sodi.
Bakgaga got off to a dream start as Mbulu broke the deadlock inside the first minute with a header into a gaping net after Ndlovu came out for a free-kick and missed the flight of the ball.
While Lidoda Duvha were working their way back into the game, Roggert Nyundu came close to levelling matters in the 28th minute with a glancing header that was saved by shot-stopper Elvis Chipezeze.
However, Evidence Makgopa doubled the lead for Matsemela Thoka's charges five minutes later with a free header from Nhlanhla Mgaga's corner.
Mbulu added a third goal for Baroka on the stroke of half-time with another header into the bottom corner to complete his brace from another cross by Thamsanqa Masiya.
Leopards were forceful in the early stages of the second stanza and they got a goal back on the hour-mark after Mfanafuthi Shozi turned a shot into his own net from close range.
The visitors chances of mounting a combeack suffered a blow as Aussems' charges were reduced to ten men in the last 18 minutes after Makobela was shown a straight red card for violent conduct.
Wonderboy Makhubu almost bagged a fourth goal for the hosts with a strike from close range that was saved by Ndlovu, but Thoka's charges were already home and dry as they clinched back-to-back wins to go top of the log with six points.
Leopards: 22. K. Ndlovu, 27. Makobela, 3. Khumalo, 2. Gyimah, 3. Ndou, 5. Abubakar, 9. Andrianarimanana, 36. Thutlwa, 45. Nyundu, 20. Sodi, Kabwe.
Subs: Mendes, Makgetlwa, Maluleke, Mokoena, Mthethwa, Matsimbi, Ononogbu, T. Ndlovu, Zulu.
Baroka: 1. Chipezeze, 5. Makume, 24. Jampies, 18. Shozi, 6. Sibiya, 3. Gebhardt, 21. Masiya, 17. Kambala, 9. Mbulu, 12. Mgaga, 27. Makgopa.
Subs: 20. Patjie, 2. Kgoetyane, 4. Seema, 34. Makhubu, 15. Mogale, 14. Mosele, 22. Mahlonoko, 10. Phiri Jr, 32. Molapo.
