Polokwane underway with victory over Leopards

Cape Town - Polokwane City started their Absa Premiership season on a positive note with a 1-0 victory over Black Leopards in a Limpopo derby at a packed Thohoyandou Stadium on Sunday.

Sbusiso Mbonani got the all important goal in the 44th minute as the defender produced a clinical finish just before the halftime interval.

The first half produced very little goal-mouth action as both sides were guilty of mis-hitting vital passes.

Leopards dominated possession in the opening stanza but struggled to penetrate the Polokwane defence.

Feeling as though they did not deserve to be behind at the break, Lidoda Duvha came out firing in the second half as Lifa Hlongwane went close to equalising.

Lesedi Kapinga was next to have a crack on goal but his effort shaved the wrong side of the post after taking a wicked defection.

Polokwane keeper George Chigova was proving to be a thorn in the home team's flesh as he looked to be in inspired form between the sticks.

The Zimbabwean shot-stopper came to his team's rescue close to the end as he brilliantly kept out a rocket shot from Thabo Matlaba.

Rise and Shine then saw out the game to claim a narrow victory that gives their new coach Zlatko Krmpotic a winning start to the season.