Black Leopards found their rhythm on Saturday afternoon when they beat Vasco da Gama 2-0 in their NFD match at the Parow Park Stadium in Cape Town. It is Leopards’ second successive victory against Vasco at the same venue. Vasco lost 1-4 to the Thohoyandou side last season.

Black Leopards approached the game like a house on fire, with their strikers, Leonard Ntshangase and Sanele Mkize, keeping the Vasco defence running for cover. Although the visitors missed a fortune in the 19th minute, they did not lose their original fighting spirit. They were awarded a penalty after Sanele Mkhize was brought down within the box. Leonard Ntshangase caused an upset by shooting straight to the keeper, who easily saved the ground cutter.

Jacob Mokhasi, the Leopards’ keeper, was made to work in the 29th minute. He stretched to the limit to execute a brilliant save after David Stevens unleashed a half volley from inside the box. Black Leopards were more organized in the midfield in the last half.

Realizing that their scoring chances were slim, the home side started to play defensive football. They soon ran out of luck when Lidoda Duvha opened their account through Karabo Tsepe in the 65th minute. Tsepe blasted in a rocket after a pre-cooked pass from Marks Munyai. Vasco threatened to score again three minutes afterwards.Their overlapping defender, Johnny Steenkamp, tried his luck from the edge of the box. The ball hit the woodwork and bounced outside the field of play for a goal kick.

 Leopards increased the margin in the 78th minute. Leonard Ntshangase dribbled past two Vasco defenders before beating the keeper with a close-range ground cutter.