Kaizer Chiefs lost 2-1 to Black Leopards in a Nedbank Cup Last 16 clash, played at the FNB Stadium. The visitors scored the opening goal, before Willard Katsande equalised. However, it was Leopards that got the winner in injury time.

Amakhosi coach Stuart Baxter sent a changed team into the field against Black Leopards. Reyaad Pieterse, for example, started in goal, while others who got game time were the likes of Simphiwe Mtsweni, Ovidy Karuru, David Zulu and Matthew Rusike.

Morgan Gould and Ivan Bukenya were the two centre-backs for the game.

Chiefs started well, having more possession of the ball, even though it didn’t result in many chances.

Zulu’s shot at goal from outside the box was the first kind of an opportunity, but the ball flew over the crossbar.

Amakhosi got a shock in the 21th minute when Leopards took the lead via Morgan Shivambu, leaving goalkeeper Pieterse no chance from close range. Linesman Buyisile Ngqambiyana, however, completely missed that Shivambu was offside when receiving the ball, as the Chiefs defence had moved up.

Zulu came close to the equaliser eight minutes later, but his header lacked the power to surprise Leopards goalie Avhashoni Tshinuna.

Slowly, the home side started to dominate, even though it was Leopards that nearly scored their second on the break.

In the 41st minute, Mandla Masango looked to round the Leopards goalkeeper, but he intercepted – did he get the Chiefs midfielder’s legs or the ball? That was the question. Masango and Amakhosi coach Baxter felt it was a penalty, which it clearly was.

In the end, referee Daniel Bennett got so upset with Baxter’s complaints that he was sent off.

The second half started like the first with Chiefs having most of the ball possession.

Rusike headed the ball at goal in the 50th minute, but the Leopards goalkeeper made a fine save, working the ball to corner.

Doctor Khumalo was now in charge at the bench, after Baxter’s sent off. The assistant-coach decided to ring the changes in the 58th minute, bringing on George Lebese for Karuru and Siphiwe Tshabalala for Zulu.

Amakhosi struggled to really dominate the game with the Leopards players working hard and competing for every ball.

Siphelele Mthembu replaced Rusike in the 75th minute. The tall striker wasn’t even a minute in the field, when his header nearly ended in the back of the net. But the Leopards goalkeeper came to his side’s rescue, punching the ball to a corner.

Eventually, it was midfielder Willard Katsande who scored the equaliser with a powerful header. The Zimbabwean doesn’t score often, but this was a beauty and… An important one as well.

The game was now on, with both teams looking for the winner. Shockingly, it was Leopards that got the goal in the 91st minute, thanks to Roggert Nyundu.

It means that Chiefs are out of the Nedbank Cup.

Kaizer Chiefs (0) 1 (Katsande 79’)

Black Leopards (1) 2 (Shivambu 21’, Nyundu 91’)

Kaizer Chiefs: Pieterse, Moleko, Gould (C), Bukenya, Mtsweni, Masango, Katsande, Bukenya, Maluleka, Karuru (Lebese 58’), Zulu (Tshabalala 59’), Rusike (Mthembu 75’)

Black Leopards: Tshinuna, Maphangule (Mahangwahaya 66’, Bobe 87’), Ndou, Nyirinda, Radebe (Nange 46’), Nyundu, Shivambu, Munganga, Mabotja, Ntshangase, Mumuni