Leopards remain rooted to the bottom of the table

by Staff Reporter

Wednesday Dec 12, 2018. 21:50

Black Leopards remain rooted to the bottom of the Absa Premiership table after playing to a 1-1 draw in a league match against Maritzburg United at the Harry Gwala Stadium on Wednesday night.

The loss leaves Leopards on ten points from 13 matches, one point behind Maritzburg who are also struggling in the relegation zone after sharing the points.

It was a slow start to the match with both sides squandering possession in the final third with poor passing and bad decision making.

The first real opportunity in front of goal fell to Maritzburg in the 20th minute when Krahire Zakri broke through on goal, but he was clattered into by goalkeeper Rotshidzwa Muleka just outside the box. The Leopards shot-stopper was lucky to only receive a yellow card for the incident.

Zakri turned provider five minutes later for the home side when he drove down the flank, but his square-ball was just beyond the reach of Andrea Fileccia who had an empty net at his mercy.

Leopards created their first chance on goal just after the hour mark when Karabo Tshepe tried his luck from the edge of the box, but he saw his superb volley tipped over the crossbar by the Maritzburg keeper.

The home side took the lead in the 38th minute when Brian Onyango headed home a Deolin Mekoa corner-kick, 1-0.

Leopards did not let that deter them as they pushed forward and managed to equalise a minute before the break courtesy of a penalty-kick goal from Mwape Musonda, 1-1.

Mekoa came close to restoring Maritzburg’s lead ten minutes into the second half, but he saw his 20-yard free-kick acrobatically saved by the fingertips of Muleka.

The game fell into a bit of a lull thereafter with neither team offering much in attack.

The home side were the better of the two sides, but not by much and created the final chance of the game in the 85th minute when Mohau Mokate found space inside the box and skied his 16-yard shot inches over the crossbar.

The match ended all-square and saw the side from KZN drop into the relegation zone as AmaZulu jumped above them following their 3-0 win over Bloemfontein Celtic (also on Wednesday night).

Maritzburg (1) 1 (Onyango 38’)
Leopards (1) 1 (Musonda 44’ pen)

Teams

Maritzburg: Ofori, Kunene (Figueredo 82’), Xulu, Onyango, De Reuck, Mekoa, Makaringe, Zakri (Makgalwa 46’), Shandu (Mokate 46’), Ndlovu, Fileccia.

Leopards: Muleka, Munyai, Masia, Munganga, Zulu, Tshepe (Kapinga 84’), Mudau (Nange 86’), Masalesa, Hlongwane (Mokoena 90’), Bereng, Musonda.