Citizens denied top spot as Baroka hold on

by Staff Reporter

Tuesday Nov 21, 2017. 20:31

Cape Town City were denied top spot in the Absa Premiership, as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Baroka FC on Tuesday evening.

As a result, the Limpopo side keep their place at the summit of South Africa's top-flight with the Citizens remaining in third - two points behind their counterparts.

As is often the case following an international break, the two teams took time to find their rhythm on a wet evening in the Mother City, with the rain and the game's tempo increasing as the match went on.

Following a rather uneventful opening stanza, the game sparked into life following the break with Robin Ngalande breaking the deadlocked in the 55th minute of the encounter.

Moments after guiding a header attempt over the crossbar, the former Ajax Cape Town man hit the back of the net to give the visitors the lead.

The Citizens went in search of an immediate reply and duly pulled level on 69 minutes through Craig Martin. The speedster getting on the end of Lyle Lakay's cross for his first in City blue and gold.

City ended the game the better of the two teams and went close to grabbing all three points through Roland Putsche and Martin in the dying exchanges, but it was not to be as they had to settle for a point.

Cape Town City (0) 1 (Martin 69')

Baroka FC (0) 1 (Ngalande 55')

Cape Town City: Stephens; Seedat, Johannes, Fielies, Mkhize - Putsche, Matsi, Modise (Patosi 56') - Lakay (Masina 70'), Martin, Koapeng (Gumede 86').

Baroka FC: Vries; Masenamela, Banda, Shaku, Kgoetyane - Madubanya, Mdantsane - Moeti, Ntshangase (Kgaswane 68'), Chawapihwa (Motupa 70'), Ngalande (Mahashe 89').