THOHOYANDOU - Last Saturday was another sad day for the local PSL club, Black Leopards Football Club. They gave away three vital league points to Manning Rangers, following a 0-1 defeat at the Thohoyandou Stadium.

Leopards took the game to their opponents from the onset but were let down by their strikers who continuously missed the target from close range.

The visiting side nearly took the lead in the fifth minute, when their Zimbabwean international, Gilbert Mushangazhike went loose and shot wide from the edge of the box. The defenders of Rangers cried fowl after Leopards' frontrunner, Magic Ratshivhadelo tackled Siza Nombe roughly in the 15th minute. Ratshivhadelo was booked for that incident. Silver Tshabalala the Leopards, keeper was forced to stretch to the limit to save Region Stuart's aerial ball moments thereafter.

The only goal of the match came in the 38th minute when Mushangazhike forced his way through the Leopards' wall and beat the keeper.

The sweeper of Rangers, Shaheen Bobbs was also cautioned for a late tackle on Duncan Lechesa three minutes before the break. The Thohoyandou outfit realised that it was not their day when Ratshivhadelo's ground cutter missed the target by inches three minutes into the last half.

Lidoda Duvha used all their substitution chances when they introduced Jaftha Mabosho, Patrick Ningiza and Johannes Nkande for Papi Gama, Bongane Masangane and Jaconia Cibi respectively. The Durbanites responded by replacing Mushangazhike with Keryn Jordan. This defeat was the fourth for Black Leopards so far this season.