Leopards have booked a place in the quarterfinal stage of the prestigious Nedbank Cup Competition by beating amateur side Matatiele Professionals 2-0 at the Thohoyandou Stadium on Saturday.

As if they were campaigning in the same division, Professionals managed to match their elder brothers pound for pound in the first 15 minutes. They even threatened to score in the 10th minute. Their overlapping midfielder, Bosisiwe Mtelo, saw his header going a little wide with the Leopards’ keeper, Mashudu Mamphitha, already beaten.

The home side started to take matters seriously soon afterwards. Their speedy forward, Walter Ramulondi, suffered the pain of watching his volley hitting the crossbar and bouncing back into the field of play. Professionals came close to scoring again in the 24th minute. Sibusiso Mapompo hit the target with a header, but the assistant referee’s flag was already up for an offside.

The new Leopards’ coach, Mr Shepherd Murape, revealed his wisdom by introducing two strikers, Myron Shongwe and Mulondo Sikhwivhilu, for Walter Ramulondi and Thabiso Hlalele in the last half. Lidoda did not waste time in the last half before taking the lead. Myron Shongwe dished a beautiful pass to the Malawian international, Fisher Kondowe, who beat Professionals’ keeper, Bhekani Masangwana, hands down in the 46th minute. Leopards later replaced Sibusiso Dlamini with David Makgale.

Makgale made his presence felt when he scored an easy goal in the 76th minute after a neat pass from Fisher Kondowe. The domestic lads relaxed on the ball after their second goal. Professionals did not lose hope, despite the odds; instead, they kept on fighting to the end.