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Vasco claim crucial away draw

Thohoyandou - Vasco Da Gama have come from behind to secure a crucial draw against Black Leopards their NFD first-leg promotion playoff match at the Seshego Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.

With Leopards hosting the first leg, the PSL incumbents, Vasco will take a potentially golden away goal home with them.

The first-leg of the playoff semi-final ended in a one-all draw, but Jerome Ramathlakwana's goal must surely hand Vasco the advantage.

Vasco started stronger than their First Division hosts, but with Leopards having proved they can beat PSL opposition with their recent Cup run it was never going to be easy for the Cape side. Despite forcing Leopards onto the back foot in the opening half-hour, Vasco conceded first.

Breslyn Hempe handled the ball inside the Vasco penalty area in one of Leopard's few offensive raids and Mongezi Bobe slotted home the penalty kick. The goal swung the momentum the way of the hosts and they proceeded to dominate the latter phases of the first-half and the early minutes of the second.

But then with nearly seventy minutes on the clock, Vasco sprung into action. The old war horse, Sibusiso Zuma hit the Leopards bar with a deft chip and with the pressure on, Vasco capitalised. They piled on the pressure and Leopards conceded. Ramathlakwana out-jumped the defence and headed home Roberto do Santos' cross.

The goal did not kill off Leopards however as they looked to regain their lead and twice in the dying minutes Posnett Omony had to make fine saves to keep his side level.

The one-all draw leaves the teams with it all to play for in the return leg in Cape Town on Saturday. With the away goal and recent PSL experience Vasco are surely the favourites to make the final. But Leopards should not be written off.

Scorers: Mongezi Bobe 30' (Leopards) and Jerome Ramathlakwana 70' (Vasco).
 
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