DURBAN – After losing 1-2 to Lamontville Golden Arrows last Saturday, Black Leopards came back from the grave and humbled Manning Rangers by the same margin in a thrilling Castle Premiership League match at the Chatsworth Stadium in Durban on Tuesday evening.

The hometeam spent the better part of the first half running around like a headless chicken, as Lidoda Duvha was dictating the terms in the middle of the park. Jacob Tshisevhe and Augustine Mabuye were instructed to contain the Rangers' leading goal scorers, Ishmael Maluleke and the Zimbabwean international Gilbert Mushangazhike. The man who gave the defence of Rangers a tough time is Sbusiso Dlamini. He was given the Man of the Match award at the end of the game, the second time around within a space of three months.

Nkhiphitheni Matombo passed the ball back to his keeper due to the pressure from Dlamini. The pass short that Dlamini intercepted was too short and opened the scoring for the Limpopo Province side. At that stage the game was 13 minutes old. Nkhiphitheni Matombo and Godfrey Ramudzuli of Leopards were cautioned by referee Petros Mathabela for rough tackling, while Japhet Zwane of Rangers was reprimanded for faking an injury.

The second goal for Leopards came in the 18th minute. Sbusiso Dlamini received a pre-cooked pass from his captain, Magic Ratshivhadelo and caught the Rangers' keeper off-guard. The visiting side were leading with 2-1 at half time.

Gilbert Mushangazhike scored the solitary goal for the "Mighty Maulers" with a header in the 44th minute. Rangers came back strongly in the last half but they could not find their way through the defence of Leopards. The normal goal scorer of Leopards, Richard Lishivha was replaced with Rudzani Ramudzuli towards the end of the game.