BLACK LEOPARDS VS GOLDEN ARROWS | NFD

Katjiukua (30′)

Competition: NFD
Date: Saturday, 23 August 2014
Venue: Thohoyandou, Polokwane
Kick-off: 15:00pm

Lamontville Golden Arrows started their NFD season on a positive note, securing a 1-0 away win against Black Leopards at Thohoyandou in Polokwane this Saturday.

The first 10 minutes of the game was rather stagnant, with both sides playing the ball more to weigh up the opposition more than anything else. Lamontville Golden Arrows had a shot at goal in this time, that went wide of the goal. Black Leopards played a strong passage of play for the next 10 minutes, dominating possession which is a strong gameplan of theirs. This saw them take a shot at goal from a corner, which was cleared by Mbaeva.

The 20th minute saw Sibeko subbed by Mdletshe after he pulled up with a hamstring injury while Black Leopards continued to take shots at goal. Mbaeva played well, ensuring that no balls crossed the goal line, while the Golden Arrows defence stepped up to the plate and gave all they had in helping defend the goal line from the relentless Black Leopards.

After 30 minutes of play Lamontville Golden Arrows managed to find the rhythm on the field that they had been looking for. The passes seemed to come more freely and direct, the players were looking for the gaps and linking well amongst each other. Then opportunity came knocking off a corner, crossed by Hotto and headed in by Katjiukua, Lamontville Golden Arrows put one in the back of the net!

This changed the attitude on the field completely, with Golden Arrows looking like the confident team we have all been accustomed to. In the 42nd minute Leopards threw the ball into the box to their strikers, he was one on one with Mbaeva, who manages a great save. Keeping the home team from getting on the scoreboard. Once again, Golden Arrows go on the attack, close to the end of the first half, Mdletshe takes on the Leopards defender, and muscles past him, he scores, but the ref disallows the goal, deeming Mdletshes play to be a foul.

In the first 5 minutes of the second half, Black Leopards come out and are playing the ball around hard. Playing some one two’s, they get into the box and score, but its judged offsides. Leopard’s once again cross the ball into the far post and it’s headed wide by their player. Supporters were getting behind Leopard’s as they played their one twos which gave them confidence going forward and they controlled the game. In the 65th min Golden Arrows made a strategic substitution with Sithole coming off and Khubone replacing him.

The last 20 minutes of the game saw both sides heavy on attack and defence, with each team trying to ge the ball into the back of the net. Zwane had a chance to make it 2-0 but failed to put it in the net. The finish of the game was intense, as Black Leopards kicked the ball forward, Mbaeva comes out to punch it and misses it completely but Cele was back in defence and clears it off the line with the header, ensuring Golden Arrows win.