A last-gasp goal by a Black Leopards replacement, Luyolo Mapolisa, caused huge celebrations in the Lidoda Duvha camp. The team registered only their second victory of the season when they narrowly beat Amazulu 1-0 in their Absa Premiership League match at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Sunday afternoon.

Lidoda Duvha meant business from the onset. They came close to scoring three minutes into the game. Captain Mongezi Bobe unleashed from the edge of the penalty box, but the ball did not have enough power to beat the keeper. Leopards’ keeper, Posnet Omony, did not have much to do in the first half, thanks to his defence, which managed to keep the opponents at bay.

Realizing that their Nigerian striker, Joshua Obaje, was looking weary, the team’s head coach, Vladislav Heric, replaced him with Bennedict Vilakazi early in the second half. Leopards’ right back, Moses Kwena, was reprimanded with a card for a late tackle on Stanton Lewis.

The home side strengthened their midfield by introducing Tangeni Siphahu at the expense of Tansang Tenyise in the 58th minute. Mahlatse Maake, Leopards’ diminutive striker, went into the referee’s book for handling the ball intentionally. Maake was replaced with Luyolo Mapolisa soon afterwards.

The hosts regrouped from behind and forced the visitors to play defensive football. Amazulu effected another change to their starting line-up, by replacing Dumisani Zwane with Bongani Mbele.

Lidoda Duvha’s killer goal came in the second minute of the referee’s optional time. Khethowakhe Masuku intercepted after a back pass by Stanton Lewis. Instead of unleashing from outside the box, Masuku shared his fortune with Luyolo Mapolisa, who beat the keeper with a ground cutter. As a time-wasting strategy, Leopards introduced David Zulu and called Khethowakhe Masuku off.

Leopards’ Malawian international, Harry Nyirenda, was the Man of the Match.