PSL Promotion Play-Offs
Result: Black Leopards 1-0 Ajax Cape Town
Date: 09 September 2020
Venue: FNB Stadium
Black Leopards started their promotion/relegation play-off battle on a winning note after edging Ajax Cape Town 1-0 on Wednesday afternoon.
Leopards were boosted by the return of their dangerman upfront Mwape Musonda from suspension but were without influential defender Edwin Gyimah.
Ajax had a great chance to grab an early lead in the fourth minute from a corner situation after a cut-back found Thendo Makumela unmarked just outside the six-yard box but he blasted his volley over the bar.
The Urban Warriors were dealt an injury blow in the 16th minute after GladAfrica Championship top goalscorer Abednigo Mosiatlhaga went down clutching his hamstring and was replaced by Chumani Butsaka.
Lidoda Duvha grew into the game after that as Musonda broke the deadlock in the 25th minute with a shot into the bottom corner after a cut-back from Tiklas Thutlwa.
Calvin Marlin's troops should have equalised five minutes before the break after Sonwabile Mfecane received a cross unmarked inside the box but he completely missed the ball and Ajax went to the break trailing by an odd goal.
The Cape Town side were struggling to break down Leopards, who were sitting deep early in the second stanza which prompted Marlin to bring on experienced midfielder Mohau Mokate in place of Mfecane for the final 20 minutes.
Lidoda Duvha were looking to hold on to their lead as the half went on, as Thabiso Mokoena came on for Donald Makgetlwa in the midfield with the Urban Warriors pushing for a goal/
Mokate came close to snatching the equaliser for Ajax in the last minute with a first-time shot at the near post but shot-stopper King Ndlovu made a great save to ensure Leopards walked away with all the spoils.
Here's how they line up:
Leopards: K.Ndlovu, Madau, Zulu, Masia, Ndou, Abubakar, Andrianarimanana, Thutlwa, Matlaba, Musonda, Makgetlwa.
Subs: Mendes, Ndawonde, Douhadji, Modiba, X.Ndlovu, Ng'ambi, Mokoena, T.Ndlovu, Khutlang.
Ajax: Hengelman; Stander, Sibande, Mukumela, Johannes, Mkhize, Kabwe, Margeman, S.Mfecane, Mosiatlhaga, Rodgers.
Subs: Johnson, Butsaka, Mokate, Siyasi, Mekoa, Abrahams, K.Mfecane, Koopstadt, Bakx.
