Kaizer Chiefs came from behind to hold Black Leopards to a 2-2 draw in a 2020-21 DStv Premiership match at FNB Stadium on Wednesday evening.
Dylan Kerr, who masterminded Baroka’s survival at the expense of Chiefs title hopes last season, looked on course to lead Leopards to their first league win over the Amakhosi in eight years, but second-half goals from Nkosingiphile Ngcobo and Khama Billiat conjured a point for the hosts.
Ovidy Karuru’s brace had fired the visitors into a 2-0 lead at the break but it didn’t end in victory for him versus his former employers. The result moves Chiefs up to 12th spot on the league standings, while Lidoda Duvha remain in 15th.
Christmas came early for Karuru who was gifted the game’s opener in the 12th minute. Itumeleng Khune’s attempted cross-field pass arrowed straight into the path of the Leopards midfielder who had the easy task of rolling the ball into an empty net.
Karuru completed his double 10 minutes later. Patient build-up play opened space down the right flank for Tebogo Makobela who played a pin-point cross into the path of the Zimbabwean who’s thumping header whistled into the back of the net.
Further chances fell at the feet of Makobela and Donald Makgetlwa before the break as Leopards headed into halftime in the ascendency and well worth their lead.
Chiefs emerged from the tunnel a different team after the interval but Lidoda Duvha conjured the first noteworthy chance of the half as Karuru raced through on goal just short of the hour mark, but Khune did enough to deny him a third on the night.
The hosts’ luck finally turned in the 69th minute as they halved the deficit through Ngcobo. Bernard Parker’s through ball caused havoc inside the area and ended up in the back of the net after bouncing off the Chiefs midfielder via King Ndlovu in the Leopards goal.
Billiat completed the comeback albeit through fortunate circumstances with four minutes of regulation time remaining. An attempted clearance deflected on goal and despite a good save by Ndlovu, the ball bounced off the woodwork and into the path of Billiat who poked home from close range to round off what was a truly extraordinary fixture.
Kaizer Chiefs (0) 2 (Ngcobo 69′ Billiat 86′)Black Leopards (2) 2 (Karuru 12′ 22′)
Kaizer Chiefs: Khune; Moleko, Cardoso, Mathoho, Zulu, Agay (Parker 46′), Blom, Ngcobo, Manyama (Kambole 46′), Billiat, Castro (Ntshangase 73′).
Black Leopards: Ndlovu; Khumalo (Zulu 72′), Gyimah, Douhadji, Makobela (Sampson 72′), Abubakar, Mthethwa, Karuru, Kabwe, Makgetlwa (Andrianarimanana 64′), Ramagalela (Masalesa 83′).©
SOURCED FROM THE PSL WEBSITE.
