Two second half substitutes in Michael Nkambule and Joshua Obaje saved Black Leopards as a goal apiece saw them beat Ajax Cape Town 2-1 in an Absa Premiership match at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Tuesday night.

Ajax took the lead in the first half through Abia Nale but saw their lead cancelled out by Nkambule a minute after coming on in the second half before Obaje scored the winner in injury time.

The result means Leopards have drawn level on points with Ajax on 23 points. Leopards are still, however, placed second from bottom while the Urban Warriors sit one place above them in 14th.

The home team started brightly and had their first attempt on goal in the fifth minute as Tshepo Mashishi let loose with a powerful long range effort, but his shot went narrowly wide.

Ajax, though, soon took control of the midfield and began fashioning some decent chances of their own, and they made their pressure tell in the 18th minute when Abia Nale opened the scoring with a fine finish at the near post, 1-0.

Five minutes later and only a fine save by Postnett Omony kept Black Leopards one down as the keeper produced an acrobatic stop to deny a shot from Matthew Booth.

Leopards slowly found their way back into the game and began dominating proceedings, but for all their possession they were unable to really break down the Ajax defence and had to resort to shooting from long range.

Raymond Monama tried his luck on the half hour mark, then Samuel Mabunda three minutes later and Mongezi Bobe in the 25th minute, but all their shots were off target.

Finally, in the 40th minute Rodney Ramagalela forced a shot on goal, but Sander Westerveld was up to the task as he kept his side in the lead with a fine save.

The second 45 saw Leopards continue where they left off, but they were able to create a decent goal scoring chance in the 54th minute as Victor Kamhuka met an out-swinging corner, but he saw his header go inches over the crossbar.

Leopards continued to press forward and were eventually rewarded for their efforts in the 74th minute as substitute Michael Nkambule made an immediate impact as he produced a fine finish to draw his side level, 1-1.

The comeback was then complete in the dying minutes of the match as Obje netted from close range after Ajax failed to clear a corner-kick, 2-1.

Black Leopards (0) 2 (Nkambule 74’, Obaje 90’)

Ajax Cape Town (1) 1 (Nale 18’)

Teams:

Black Leopards: Postnet Omony, Victor Kamhuka, Thulani Ntshingila, Moses Kwena, Mongezi Bobe (Brian Abbas Amidu 83’) , Rodney Ramagalela, Raymond Monama, Samuel Mabunda, Hector Zulu (Joshua Obaje 70’), Sphamandla Sithole, Karabo Tshepe (Michael Nkambule 73’)

Ajax Cape Town: Sander Westerveld, Nazeer Allie, Thulani Hlatshwayo, Matthew Booth (Cecil Lolo 58’), Thato Mokeke, Lance Davids (Ndumiso Vezi 91’), Lebogang Manyama, Granwald Scott, Abia Nale (Mabhuti Khenyeza 65’), Koen van de Laak, Khama Billiat