THOHOYANDOU – Black Leopards gave their loyal fans a special Christmas gift in the form of league points when they crushed Mamelodi Sundowns Football Club 2-1 in their Castle Premiership League match at the Thohoyandou Stadium on Saturday.

The result of the match has refuted the myth that Black Leopards do not win at home. It was clear from the onset that the home side were hungry for a win by the manner in which the midfielders were distributing telling passes to the strikers.

Their Swaziland playmaker, Wonder Nhleko, caused an upset in the 10th minute when he shot wide with the Sundowns’ keeper, Brian Baloyi, to beat. Siaka Tiene, the Sundowns’ left flank, was booked for obstructing Wonder Nhleko three minutes later.

The visitors were the first to find the net. Their solitary goal came in the 20th minute via Paulos Masehe. He finished off a square pass from Siaka Tiene. Wonder Nhleko was also warned with a card for tackling Peter Ndlovu the rough way.

Lidoda duvha retaliated in the 38th minute. Christopher Netshidzivhe caught Brian Baloyi off guard when he unleashed a volley from outside the box. Baloyi watched in disbelief as the ball hit the back of the net. Leopards fortified their midfield by introducing Tebogo Mashaba for Nhlanhla Mathebula towards the end of the first half.

Sundowns effected two changes to their original team early in the last half. Surprise Moriri and Clement Mazibuko were replaced with Raphael Chukwu and Shakes Ngwenya respectively. The goal that earned the Thohoyandou outfit three vital points came four minutes before the final whistle. Mulondo Sikhwivhilu capitalized on Peter Ndlovu’s back pass and beat Baloyi with a ground cutter.