Black Leopards tasted the pain of losing a league match this season, when they lost 0-2 to Cape Town All Stars in their NFD match at the Thohoyandou Stadium on Sunday.

The home side threatened to score two minutes into the game. Their dribbling wizard, Leonard Ntshangase, was brought down within the box. Instead of blowing the whistle and awarding a penalty to Lidoda Duvha, the referee, Mr Shane Chuma, waved a play-on signal as if nothing had happened. His decision did not go down well with the Leopards’ fans as they started to jeer him.

That was a wake-up call to the team from the mother city. They took the game to the hosts, giving the Leopards’ defenders no time to breathe. The wheel of fortune turned againstLidoda Duvha in the 24th minute. Thapelo Mathibe received a pre-cooked pass from James Mofokeng and beat Leopards’ keeper, Avhashoni Tshinuna, with a half volley. A few minutes later, Leopards' left wing, Bongani Manana, sustained a knee injury and was replaced with Thembisani Nevhulamba.

Nevhulamba realized that it was not his day when he squandered a clear scoring chance shortly after his introduction. He received a neat pass from Leonard Ntshangase and hesitated for far too long to unleash until he lost possession. Leopards introduced Mxolisi Ntshingila and sacrificed Jabulani Ndebele six minutes into the last half.

Leopards later replaced Morgan Shibambu with Meshack Maphangule. All Stars increased the margin in the 78th minute. Thapelo Mathibe blasted in a rocket, following scramble within the box.