Leopards destroy FC Cape Town

Black Leopards secured a place in the last 16 of the Nedbank Cup, when they crushed FC Cape Town 6-2 at the Thohoyandou Stadium on Saturday.

Leopards created more scoring opportunities from the onset and the Capetonians became frustrated and started to apply rough tackles in the first half. The referee had no option but to calm the situation by reprimanding Moeketsi Mvula with a card. The keeper of Cape Town, Siyabonga Mbatha, made his presence felt in the 16th minute. Leopards were awarded a free kick just outside the box. Leonard Ntshangase unleashed from the set piece and Mbatha impressed when he braved the hot shot and executed a brilliant save.

A defender of FC Cape Town, Sibusiso Masina, was lucky to get away with a yellow card. He handled the ball intentionally, but the referee only flashed a yellow card when everyone thought Masina would be taking an early shower. It was a clear penalty.

Roggert “Walk tall” Nyundu shot straight to the keeper, Mbatha, who saved the ball. It bounced back into the field of play, however, and Leonard Ntshangase was quick to pounce on the ball and beat the stranded keeper. Nyundu later forced his way through the defence of the Cape Town team and scored an easy goal from close range, to bring the half-time score to 2-0.

Early in the second half, the keeper of FC Cape Town missed the ball while trying to palm it away. Nyundu capitalized to score his team’s third goal. FC Cape Town did not give in without a fight, though. They continued to initiate some promising moves from behind until they reduced the margin via Andile Khumalo in the 68th minute.

Shimi Radebe of Leopards was on target in the 74th minute to make it 4-1, but FC Cape Town pulled one back three minutes later, when Moeketsi Mvula of Cape Town then tried his luck from outside the penalty box with a volley. Leopards’ keeper, Avhashoni Tshinuna, could not reach the ball and only watched the ball cross the goal line.

Leopards, however, put matters beyond doubt in the 80th minute. Roggert Nyundu completed his hat trick by beating the keeper with a ground cutter, following a neat pass by Marks Munyai.

The last goal of the match was scored by Shimi Radebe. He completed his brace in the 84th minute.

Leopards' hat-trick hero, striker Roggert Nyungu, was named man of the match and he received R5 000 for his achievement.

Date:27 February 2015

By: Kaizer Nengovhela

Kaizer Nengovhela started writing stories for Limpopo Mirror in 2000. Prior to that he had a five year stint at Phala-Phala FM as sports presenter. In 2005 Kaizer received an award from the province's premier as Best Sports Presenter. The same year he was also nominated as Best Sports Reporter by the Makhado Municipality. Kaizer was awarded the Mathatha Tsedu award in 2014.

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