Black Leopards lost their Absa Premiership status after drawing 1-1 with Bay United in the second leg of the Promotion Play-offs at Malamulele Stadium on Sunday.

The draw saw United winning the tie 2-1 on aggregate, following their 1-0 victory over Leopards in Port Elizabeth last week.

Leopards had chances to win the match convincingly, but they failed to convert the opportunities that came their way.

'Lidoda Duvha's first chance of the game fell to Mulondo Sikhwivhilu in the eighth minute, but his shot went narrowly wide.

Sikhwivhilu was in the thick of things once again in the 17th minute, when he beat his marker and sent a perfect cross that was headed in by Jabulani Maluleke.

Myron Shongwe thought he had made it 2-0 for Leopards just 12 minutes later, but his goal was ruled offside by referee Jerome Damon.

United were awarded a free-kick in a promising position in the 39th minute. Gareth Ncaca stepped up and found the back of the net to level the scores.

The scored remained 1-1 at half-time.

Leopards continued to pile on the pressure in the second half, but their efforts were often thwarted by United goalkeeper Arthur Bartman.

When Bartman saved Maluleke's penalty in the dying minutes of the match, the writing was on the wall and it was just not going to be Leopards’ day.

The game eventually ended in a 1-1 draw - a result that condemns Leopards to National First Division, where they will join already-relegated Jomo Cosmos.