Black Leopards refuted the old adage that leopards never change their spots with a rejuvenated 2-2 Premier Soccer League (PSL) draw against Kaizer Chiefs at a jam-packed Thohoyandou Stadium on Wednesday afternoon in the wake of their recent 5-1 pummelling at the hands of Mamelodi Sundowns.
It was a sprightly share of the spoils, with the Limpopo-based club holding their own and coming close to emerging with full points — despite trailing twice in a steamy, uncompromising match.
Ironically, the Leopards’ revival benefited Sundowns as much as anyone, with Amakhosi now pegged back five points behind the new log leaders in third position as the PSL goes into a lengthy mid-season break.
In the process, Chiefs’ own recent revival, in which they have gained three successive victories, was halted by a team who refused to accept the meaning of defeat.
Chiefs opened the score in the 26th minute through a stunningly executed goal from David Mathebula in which David Radebe and Luis Agyemang performed in total harmony.
But Amakhosi’s 1-0 lead at the interval was a little flattering and the sprightly Rudzani Ramadzuli’s opportunist equaliser in the 49th minute compensated for a gilt-edged opportunity missed in the first half.
Leopards momentarily lost their verve and allowed Radebe to storm through the defence and chip the ball over the head of goalkeeper Guy Mutshi to regain the lead for Chiefs in the 63rd minute.
But any thoughts of Leopards cowering to defeat were soon dissipated when substitute Robert Ngambi had the ball in the net four minutes later — only for the mesmerising goal to be disallowed for what was a fractional off-side decision.
Ngambi, however, was not to be denied and his rasping equaliser in the 74th minute was well deserved.
The game ended with both sides pursuing a winning goal in the oppressive heat with grim determination, but a little like two boxers showing signs of 10 rounds of punishing exchanges.
And afterwards a pent-up crowd of more than 25 000 seemed quite as exhausted by the proceedings as the players. — Sapa