Stars fail to ease relegation woes

by Brian Lee

Wednesday Apr 04, 2018. 22:16

Platinum Stars failed to ease their relegation woes after playing to another goalless draw against Baroka FC in an Absa Premiership match at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium on Wednesday night.

Stars’ ninth draw of the league season leaves them firmly rooted to the bottom of the league table with 18 points, six adrift of 15th placed Ajax Cape Town.

The first effort on goal went the way of Stars in the 12th minute when Gerald Phiri worked some space for himself on the edge of the box, but he fired his powerful shot just wide of the goal.

Ten minutes later Phiri was in the thick of the action once again, but like his first effort he curled his 20-yard shot inches over the target.

Stars controlled the remainder of the half, but their decision making was poor in the final third and failed to really trouble the keeper.

Baroka, on the other hand, struggled to get their foot on the ball and were lucky to enter the half time break locked at 0-0.

The first real chance of the second half came on the hour mark, and it was no surprise it went the way of Stars, with Sibusiso Msomi dribbling his way into the box but his 16-yard shot went over the crossbar under no pressure from the defence.

Baroka had the better of the last half hour, but much like their opponents in the first half their finishing in front of goal was extremely poor and they never really threatened the Stars goal.

Substitute Robert Ng’ambi had a great chance to seal victory for the home side when he broke into the boxing in the 90th minute, but he failed to beat the keeper in a one-on-one.

In the end neither side could break the deadlock as the match ended goalless.

The draw for Baroka sees them still in the top eight, currently occupying seventh place with 33 points which is one point above eighth placed Bidvest Wits.

Platinum Stars (0) 0
Baroka FC (0) 0

Teams

Stars: Mzimela, Mpeta, Sithole, Mlilo, Mere, Mekoa, Msomi (Gome 77’), Rambuwane (Ng’ambi 61’), Phiri, Norodien (Nyanda 68’), Ntuli.

Baroka: Dlamini, Mohwatseleng, Madubanya, Banda, Kgoetyane, Mosele (Mdatsane 74’), Mothupa, Matloga (Sodi 72’), Kgaswane, Chawapiwa, Motupa.