Black Leopards crash out of Nedbank Cup

LIMPOPO – Black Leopards were knocked out of the prestigious Nedbank Cup Keyona by Cape Town Spurs after a 4-1 penalty shootout at Thohoyandou Stadium last Wednesday. The match had ended in a goalless draw, with the winners ultimately determined through penalties.

Leopards showcased entertaining football from the start but were unlucky in front of goal. In the 10th minute, Mwape Musonda, playing on the right flank, squandered a golden opportunity. After evading two defenders, he shot wide from inside the box, much to the dismay of the team’s supporters.

Leopards’ difficulties continued when their leading scorer, Bethuel Muzeu, missed two key chances. First, after receiving a precise pass from Thendo Mukumela within the box, Muzeu shot wide despite the goalkeeper being stranded. A similar mistake followed when he failed to connect with a square pass from Donald Makgethlwa.

In a controversial moment, Spurs’ centre-back Eyona Ndondo escaped a red card when he obstructed Sedzani Mudau at the edge of the box, denying a potential goal-scoring opportunity. Despite the clear foul, the referee only issued a yellow card, leaving fans disappointed at the leniency.

Spurs’ first real threat came in the 47th minute when Angus Moss, receiving a pass from Denzel du Plessis, fired wide from close range.

The match took another twist in the 78th minute when Tshepo Gumede of Spurs ran onto a loose ball from the left corner. After a few steps toward goal, he fired a shot that struck the woodwork, frustrating Spurs’ efforts and ultimately leading to a goal kick.