Kaizer Chiefs’ hope of finishing in the top-eight was dented after a suffering surprise 2-1 loss to relegation-threatened Black Leopards at Thohoyandou Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.
From the team that lost 3-0 to Simba, Gavin Hunt made four changes as Happy Mashiane, Nkosingiphile Ngcobo, Lazarous Kambole and Darrel Matsheke were brought into the XI, while Bruce Bvuma kept his place in goal.
Just ten minutes into the game, Amakhosi grabbed the lead with Leonardo Castro opening with a firm strike after goalkeeper Jonas Mendes had kept out the initial strike from Mashiane.
Sanele Mathenjwa soon grabbed the equalizer for the hosts some minutes before the break when he was left alone in the box but his effort went slightly over the bar.
Just on the stroke of halftime, Lidoda Duvha had parity restored for them through Tiklas Thutlwa with a simple tap in at the back post from a well-weighted cross from Mashoene’s.
Hunt’s men came out fighting after the break and were close to restoring their lead just ten minutes in after Ngcobo’s free-kick came off the upright after it took a deflection from Castro’s back
Leopards, who needed to win to stay up, responded with a tactical change two minutes later as Tebogo Makobela replaced Ethen Sampson at right-back while Amakhosi brought on Reeve Frosler in place of Mashiane at the hour mark.
With the game nearing its conclusion, Thutlwa handed the home side the lead four minutes later with a free header inside the six-yard box after a cross by Makobela to complete his brace.
Hunt made a double change in the final quarter as Anthony Akumu replaced Macheke in the midfield while Sabelo Radebe came on for Kambole.
However, Chiefs couldn’t find a breakthrough as Leopards held on to secure victory but remain three points behind 15th-placed Chippa United while Amakhosi stay out of the top eight in 11th spot.