10-man Baroka beaten in derby

by Staff Reporter

Sunday Mar 03, 2019. 17:30

Ten-man Baroka FC succumbed 3-1 against Absa Premiership derby rivals Polokwane City at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Sunday.

The result, inspired by a brace from Mohammed Anas, sees Rise and Shine move into seventh spot on the log, while Bakgaga remain in 13th.

Baroka almost opened the scoring in the 10th minute with what would have been a world-class goal: a diagonal ball from Collins Makgaka picked out the run of Mduduzi Mdantsane, who cracked a first-time volley on the left foot which rattled the crossbar.

Polokwane then claimed the lead nine minutes later through a superb finish from Mohammed Anas. The Ghanaian first showed a great first touch to control a flick-on at a corner kick, before acrobatically volleying into the top corner to give the defender guarding the post no chance of a save.

The remainder of the half saw no further clear chances at either end, though Baroka were perhaps the more enterprising team, and they did create some uncomfortable moments for City goalkeeper George Chigova through Matome Mabeba’s excellent corner kick deliveries.

Rise and Shine doubled their lead eight minutes into the second half. Walter Musona’s low shot was well saved by Elvis Chipezeze, but the ‘keeper wasn’t able to hold onto the ball and Salulani Phiri arrived to sweep home a shot and make it 2-0.

Things went from bad to worse for Bakgaga, who were reduced to 10 men in the 55th minute when defender Bonginkosi Makume was perhaps harshly adjudged to have denied Musona a clear scoring opportunity with a body check and issued a straight red card.

Despite being down a man, Baroka pulled a goal back in the 63rd minute, with Makgaka sending a low shot from the ‘D’ of the penalty area beyond the reach of Chigova to make it 2-1.

With the game rapidly descending into an end-to-end battle, Polokwane nearly added to their lead on 73 minutes when Musona went direct for goal from a free kick but saw his effort turned away for a corner kick by Chipezeze.

Yet Rise and Shine claimed their third goal in the 80th minute, with Anas running down a ball over the defence before providing an excellent solo effort which saw him hold off two defenders before beating the ‘keeper with a well-placed shot.

Polokwane will return to league action on Wednesday when they play away to Free State Stars, while Baroka will have to wait until Saturday afternoon for their match in Makhulong against Highlands Park.

Baroka FC (0) 1 (Makgaka 63’)
Polokwane City (1) 3 (Anas 19’ 80’, Phiri 53’)

Baroka: Chipezeze, Makume, Semenya, Mongae, Mapheto, Chinyengetere (Mosele 58’), Makgantai (Dickens 58’), Mdantsane, Mabeba, Madigoe (Sodi 66’), Makgaka

Polokwane: Chigova, Mvelase, Motloung, Mbonani, Hlongwane, Seabi (Manaka 70’), Phiri, J. Maluleke (Sikhondze 69’), Booi, Musona (Mbampaniso 87’), Anas