Maritzburg dump Leopards out of Nedbank Cup

Cape Town - Black Leopards crashed out of the Nedbank Cup after going down 3-1 to Maritzburg United in a round of 32 match at the Harry Gwala stadium on Wednesday night.

‘Man of the Match’, Kurt Lentjies, scored a brace for the home side to see them send a ten-man Leopards side out of the cup competition.

The Team of Choice were the better team in the opening stages of the half and took the lead in the 17^th minute courtesy of a fine 18-yard strike from Lentjies that found the corner of the net, 1-0.

Leopards, though, were not going to go down without a fight and equalised in the 23^rd minute when good work down the right flank saw Roggert Nyunda tap home a low cross from Khunadi Nkoana, 1-1.

Both sides pushed forward for the remainder of the half, but neither could add to their tally.

The half ended 1-1.

The second half started a little slowly and chances on goal were at a minimum.

Maritzburg, however, took the ascendancy again in the 70^th minute after Bandile Shandu found some space inside the Leopards box and duly shot home to make it 2-1.

Only the woodwork kept the home side in front seven minutes later when a strike from the edge of the box by Leopards’ Ivan Mahangwahaya struck the post.

Rendai Ndou was sent for an early shower in the 82^nd minute after fouling Evans Rusike inside the box. The referee deemed the Leopards man to be the last defender and pointed to the penalty spot.

Lentjies coolly converted from the spot to make it 3-1 and hand Maritzburg a place in the Last 16 of the Nedbank Cup.