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Brave Aces retain PSL status

Johannesburg - A 10-man Mpumalanga Black Aces staged one of the bravest fight backs in local soccer history when they retained their Premier Soccer League status with a heart stopping 5-3 penalty shootout win over Black Leopards in an action packed second leg of the PSL promotion/relegation playoff staged at a rain soaked the Ackerville Stadium on Wednesday.

The teams finished 3-3 on aggregate after Aces won this clash 2-1.

Goalkeeper Chad Harpur emerged as one of the Aces heroes by saving Patrick Mtawali’s penalty to earn Aces their famous victory in a dramatic shootout. Aces netted all five spot kicks. The other Aces hero was Zambian star Clifford Mulenga who scored both goals.

Aces trailed 2-1 from the first leg played in Thohoyandou at the weekend found themselves a goal down in the 11th minute and then the home side had substitute Vusiwe Masondo sent off in the 67th minute.

To their credit Aces fought as their lives depended on it and were all over Leopards in a helter skelter second half in which the home side dominated despite being a man short for the last 23 minutes.

Aces were forced into the playoffs after finishing 15th in the 16-team Absa Premiership.

The rain played havoc with the pitch and players. There were puddles all over the pitch which reduced the game to a lottery. The rain forced officials to delay the kick-off for 45 minutes. The match eventually started at 3.45pm. The match commissioner Robert Pillay eventually allowed the game to go ahead after he had inspected the pitch and said that the pitch had an "excellent drainage system."

Aces needed to score an early goal. It was Leopards who got the all important breakthrough when midfielder Khethowatkhe Masuku made it 1-0 for the visitors when he drilled home a scorching shot from 25 metres that gave keeper Chad Harpur no chance in the 11th minute. That settled Leopards nerves and gave them a two goal cushion on aggregate.

Aces coach Aki Agiomamitis pulled out Richard Rantjie in midfield and brought on striker Madoda Motha in the 21st minute as Aces went for broke. The change made the difference.

Aces started to put Leopards under pressure on the quagmire pitch.

Mulenga fired a shot that shaved the Leopards crossbar in the 30th minute. A minute later Mpho Maleka headed fractionally wide of the Leopards woodwork.

Aces Lindokuhle Mbatha shot from the edge of the area inched over the crossbar in the 37th minute.

Leopards who relied on the counter attack came close to doubling their lead when Mayasislua Lubanzadio headed over the Aces crossbar from a corner three minutes from the break. Mulenga crashed a cross against the upright in injury time as Aces tried desperately to pull a goal back.

The rain stopped in the second half and Aces threw caution to the wind and were rewarded when Mulenga made it 1-1 after some good work from Mbatha to give Aces a lifeline at 1-1 in the 62nd minute.

Aces were handicapped when Masondo was sent off by referee Jerome Damon in the 67th minute for a foul on Isaac Marobe.

Still Aces showed courage and went for broke and it took a desperate save from keeper Ayanda Mtshali to stop Mulenga making it 2-1 in the 75th minute. Then in a frantic last 15 minutes, Aces dominated and it was Mulenga who took the match to penalties when he made it 2-1 and 3-3 on aggregate in the 81st minute when he beat the offside trap, rounded Mtshali and calmly fired into the empty net.

Playing with 10 men Aces were the better side at the end against a Leopards side that looked shell shocked.

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