Black Leopards were booted out of the Nedbank Cup KO competition on Wednesday evening, when Platinum Stars beat them 2-0 at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.

Platinum Stars or Dikwena, got their first scoring opportunity in the 12th minute, but their speedy forward, Henrico Botes, shot straight to the Leopards' keeper, Azwinndini Maphaha. He palmed the ball away for a corner kick.

The visitors from the North West took the lead in the 27th minute. They were awarded a corner kick and Tintswalo Tshabalala took it from the left corner. Tshabalala scored after a scramble in the box.

Leopards' midfielders, Raymond Monama, Edgar Manaka and Dunga Munganga lost touch in the last 15 minutes of the first half. That resulted in Lidoda Duvha conceded four corner kicks in a quick succession.

Stars almost increased the tally three minutes into the last half. Their left flank, Thuso Phala, watched in disbelief as his volley hit the woodwork and bounced back into play. Leopards replaced Edgar Manaka with Sizwe Sibiya in the 50th minute and Humphrey Khosa of Leopards was warned with a card for bad tackle to Henrico Botes moments thereafter.

Dunga Munganga of Leopards was brought down within the box and the referee, Mr Victor Hlungwani, remained silent at the time when everyone thought he would award Leopards a penalty. Hendrico Botes scored the second for the Stars with a header, following a square pass by the Malawian international, Robert Ngambi, in the 64th minute.

Lidoda Duvha threatened to score two minutes later, when Abbas Amidu unleashed from the edge of the box. The ball did not have enough power to beat the Stars’ keeper. Instead of replacing a tired Rodney Ramagalela, the Leopards technical staff did the unexpected when they introduced Mxolisi Gumede for Abbas Amidu in the 74th minute.

As a delaying tactic, the Stars relaxed on the ball for the remaining part of the game.