Baroka suffer third straight loss at Athlone

by Phumzile Ngcatshe

Tuesday Apr 24, 2018. 21:39

Baroka suffered a 1-0 loss at the hands of Ajax Cape Town in an Absa Premiership match on Wednesday night at Athlone Stadium.

In the wake of the loss, coach MacDonald Makhubedu's men move to the 10th spot on the log standings with 33 points from 28 league games.

A late goal through skipper Mosa Lebusa ensured the Urban Warriors handed Bakgaga Ba Mphahlele their third loss in a row.

It was a fast paced start by the two sides, but the best opportunity fell for the hosts when Yannick Zakri saw his header punched away for a corner by Ayanda Dlamini in the 11th minute.

Baroka had an upper hand in terms of attacks after the 30th minute and Mpho Kgaswane saw his set piece sailing over the cross bar with the hosts’ defence failing to deal with three successive corner kicks.

With more action happening in the heart of the park, Zakri had a free header in the 40th minute yet could not direct it on target.

Despite the sense of urgency from the hosts, they could not break the solid visiting defence as it remained goalless at half time.

Ajax came back from the tunnel with hunger as they and substitute Samuel Julies nearly made an immediate impact when he forced a fine save from Dlamini.

After the 65th minute, Zakri brilliantly played a cross with a header in search of Julies and the substitute’s effort was punched over the crossbar by Dlamini for a corner.

Ajax gave Bakgaga ba Mphahlele too much space and Talent Chawapiwa attempted a curling shot in the 79th minute, but could not trouble February.

With nine minutes to go, substitute Sergio Kammies would find himself in the penalty are, he beat his marker but saw his low shot going wide.

The Ajax bench could not believe it when Zakri missed another wonderful chance on the left post when he had all the time to pick his spot, his effort went wide in the 86th minute.

Ajax continued to pile pressure on the Limpopo side and it was Lebusa who found the back of the in the 91st minute from a telling cross from the right following a poor handling by Dlamini.

The second win for the hosts at home sees them moving up to the 14th spot with 31 points from 28 games.

Ajax Cape Town (0) 1 (Lebusa 90+1’)
Baroka FC 0

Ajax Cape Town: February, Zwane, Nhlapo (Julies 59’), Booysen, Lebusa, Nel (Kammies 78’), Malepe (Losper 46’), Margeman, Kabwe, Morris, Zakri

Baroka FC: Dlamini, Kgoetyane, Mothupa, Madubanya, Nguzana (Soso 78’), Chawapiwa (Mahashe 90’), Kgaswane, Mabotja, Mdantsane, Makgaka (Mosele 59’), Banda