Goals from Essau Kanyenda and second-half substitute Thobani Mncwango saw Limpopo's only team in the PSL, Polokwane City, beat MP Black Aces 2-1 in an Absa Premiership match at the old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Sunday.

The first half saw Aces controlling matters, but they were made to pay for not making the most of their opportunities in front of the goal.

Aces dictated terms from the outset but saw themselves going into the half-time break a goal down. The away side made their intentions clear early on as Onyekachi Okonkwo found himself just inside the box, but his 16-yard shot was brilliantly saved by Modiri Marumo, diving to his right to make the stop.

On the half hour mark, a swift passing movement by Aces saw Thabo Qalinge getting into the box, but he failed to find the target with his shot. In the 39th minute, Clifford Mulenga tried his luck from 22 yards out, but the Aces man saw his shot curl just wide of the left-hand post.

A minute before the break, and very much against the run of play, Essau Kanyenda gave Polokwane the lead after latching onto a through ball from Puleng Tlolane and then toe-poking under the onrushing Bafana Nhlapo to make it 1-0.

The start of the second 45 saw Aces applying pressure on the Polokwane side as they went in search of the equaliser. That pressure paid off in the 54th minute as Okonkwo spotted the keeper off his line and lobbed the ball over him from 24 yards out, making the score 1-1.

In the 64th minute, Siphesihle Nzimande should have scored Polokwane’s second goal when he was close to the goal box, but he fired way over the crossbar. In the 79th minute, Polokwane re-took the lead after second-half substitute Thobani Mncwango scored with his first touch of the game as he turned home a low right-wing cross from Tlolane from a yard out, making it 2-1.

Aces tried to find their way back into the match, but the Polokwane defence held firm and picked up the three points. - Backpagemedia