DURBAN – Black Leopards F.C. were forced to eat humble pie by the resurrected AmaZulu, when they were thrashed 4-1 during a thrilling game that was played at the Princess Magogo Stadium in Durban on Saturday.

The game started at a furious pace with Usuthu gaining the upper hand in the middle of the park.

The home side were the first to blow the trumpet. Alton Meiring outjumped the Leopards' keeper, Conrad Hendricks, to head home a long throw-in from the right corner. Three minutes later the former Sundowns marksman went looking for his second goal, but his cleverly-taken ground shot went a little wide.

Lidoda Duvha equalised in the 21st minute, when Japhta Mabosho stretched to hook in a cross from Richard Lishivha. With their enthusiastic supporters blowing the horns from the pavilion, AmaZulu continued to fight for the maximum points in a bid to move away from the relegation zone.

AmaZulu again took the lead in the 27th minute. Brian Sebapule received a neat pass at the edge of the penalty box and turned superbly, before firing home a powerful left-footed shot. At the break the score was 2-1.

After the break AmaZulu stepped up their performance a gear in their quest to increase the lead. Meiring watched in disbelief as his shot hit the side netting four minutes into the last half. The visiting side did not accept defeat easily and they took the fight to the homeside. Johannes Nkande was very unlucky when his shot missed the target in the 65th minute.

With seven minutes to full-time Meiring took advantage of a rebound from an attempt by substitute, Tauya Morewa, to make it 3-1 with a brilliant overhead kick. And still it was not over yet, as Meiring completed his hat trick with referee Walter Machubela constantly watching the clock.