Black Leopards and Bloemfontein Celtic shared the spoils when they played to an exciting 2-2 Premier Soccer League draw at Thohoyandou Stadium on Tuesday night.
Leopards led 2-1 at the break after coming back from a goal behind.
Moses Spandeel put Celtic ahead with a brilliant bicycle kick that beat Leopards goalkeeper Mamphitha Mashudu in the 21st minute.
However, it took Leopards just six minutes to draw level through their captain and midfielder Duncan Lechesa, who headed home a free kick from Eric Ramavhale.
The equaliser inspired the hosts to take the game to the Free Staters as they went in search of more goals and a much-needed three points.
They were rewarded for their perseverance when Molondo Sikhwivhilu scored an easy goal in the 39th minute to take the score to 2-1 in favour of Leopards.
That also become the half-time score as both teams failed to make any clear-cut chances in the remainder of the stanza.
In the opening minutes of the second half, though, it was the turn of a far more determined Celtic to take centre stage.
The visitors played their hearts out, eager to level matters once more.
It came as no surprise when reliable striker Collins Chabalala made it two-all with a simple score when he beat Leopards’ substitute goalkeeper, Walter Khumalo, in the 56th minute.
The match deteriorated somewhat as both teams guarded against going behind again and few chances were had by either side.
The two teams played out a 1-1 draw in the first round that was played in Bloemfontein. — Sapa