Mhofu leads Leopards to Nedbank Cup semi finals

Saturday basking in glory after he led his South African side Black Leopards to the semi-finals of the Nedbank Cup.
Black Leopards became the first team to book a place in the last four of the 2011 Nedbank Cup, beating top flight side Vasco da Gama 3-2 after extra-time at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
While it was all smiles for the Zimbabwean gaffer, it was not the same for his fellow countrymen. Knowledge Musona’s Kaizer Chiefs were booted out by giant killers Baroka when they lost 1-2 at Peter Mokaba yesterday.
Musona gave the Soweto giants a 36th minute lead, picking out the top corner of the net with his left foot after a storming run by captain Jimmy Tau.
But the Second Division side, who have already claimed the scalp of Premiership side Moroka Swallows in this tournament, came from behind and focred two goals in the 44th and 90th minute. Ramson Zhuwawo and Carlington Nyadombo Amazulu were also booted out of the Nedbank Cup when they lost 3-2 to relegated Mpumulanga Black Aces. The last semi final candidate will be out today when Orlando Pirates and Free State Stars lock horns.
Vasco scored first and last in regulation time, with two excellent efforts from midfielder Zeka Karkee sandwiching own goals from defenders Aidan Jenniker and Mokete Tsotetsi that accounted for Leopards’ tally.
The home team then scored in the last minute of extra time through substitute Grant Lungu to take the game 3-2.
The result serves as sweet revenge for Lidoda Duvha, who were beaten by the Cape Town team in the First Division Championship final last season and missed out on promotion to the Premier Soccer League.
The sides respective goalkeepers – Azwindinni Maphaka for Leopards and Posnett Omony for Vasco – were busy men in the first half, as both made some excellent saves to keep the score line blank for the better part of 40 minutes. However, there was nothing Maphaka could do to deny Karkee the opening goal in the 39th minute.
The Vasco midfielder picked up the ball 35 metres from goal, drove forward a few strides and then unleashed an unstoppable long-range drive that crashed into the back of the net.
Yet Vasco’s lead lasted just three minutes.
A hopeful ball into the Cape side’s penalty area from Mongezi Bobe seemed to pose no threat but left-back Aidan Jenniker seemed surprised that the ball reached him and it sliced into his own goal off his left shin from an awkward, half-hearted attempt at a clearance.
With coach Chidzambwa barking instructions from the bench, Leopards were far and away the better team in the second half, dominating the midfield to such an extent that the PSL side were forced into withdrawing striker Jerome Ramathlakwana and putting on the defensive-minded Lebohang Mothibantwa in order to try and stem the tide of the hosts.
As the end of regulation crept ever closer, Leopards upped the intensity of their attacks, and they were rewarded with a second goal in the 87th minute, though once again there was a large slice of luck involved. Moses Kwena pulled a pass back for Bobe, who shot from just outside the box; his effort seemed to be heading wide of the target to Omony’s right, but a big deflection off the foot of centre-back Mokete Tsotetsi directed the ball into the back of the net, with the ‘keeper left absolutely helpless. That own goal should have been decisive but Vasco pulled level at 2-2 in the second minute of injury-time. – Supersport.