Maritzburg United brush aside Baroka

by Austin Ditlhobolo

Friday Dec 08, 2017. 22:10

Maritzburg United defeated Baroka FC 3-0 in an Absa Premiership match at the Harry Gwala Stadium on Friday night.

As a result, the Team of Choice climb up to fifth spot on the league standings, while Bakgaga slip down to fourth spot on the table.

The first chance of the game fell for Maritzburg striker Mohau Mokate two minutes into match and he placed his header wide of the target.

As the match progressed, Mokate tested Baroka goalkeeper Virgil Vries, who made a decent save to deny the Team of Choice player.

The deadlock was then broken by Evans Rusike, who beat Vries to make it 1-0 to Maritzburg in the 31st minute much to the delight of the home crowd.

Maritzburg`s Ghanaian international Richard Ofori then made some good saves in the remaining minutes of the first-half.

The score was 1-0 to Maritzburg, who managed to hold on to their slender lead.

The Team of Choice doubled their lead seven minutes after the restart and it was Rusike once again.

The Zimbabwean international beat Namibia's second-choice keeper Vries to make it 1-0 to Maritzburg.

Bakgaga were under pressure and the hosts made it 3-0 in the 65th minute and this time it was Siphelele Ndlovu, who scored a brilliant goal.

Maritzburg then contained Baroka in the closing stages of the encounter and the hosts ran out 3-0 winners on the night.

Maritzburg (1) 3 (Rusike 31', 52', Ndlovu 65')
Baroka (0) 0

Maritzburg: Ofori, Sanoka, Xulu, Fransman, Shandu (Mandela 45'), Maboe, Ndlovu, Mekoa, Makaringe, Rusike (Atouba 78'), Mokate (Fileccia 72').

Baroka: Vries, Shaku, Kgoetyane, Banda, Moeti, Mothupa, Ntshangase (Soso 56'), Kgaswane, Madubanya (Matloga 64'), Mdantsane, Ngalande (Mosele 80').