Mdantsane nets as Baroka hold Cape Town City

by Staff Reporter

Saturday Aug 03, 2019. 20:08

Baroka FC drew 2-2 with Cape Town City in their opening 2019/20 Absa Premiership match at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The Citizens threatened first through their Dutch attacking midfielder Chris David just two minutes into the encounter.

The 26-year-old player’s effort went just over the crossbar with Benni McCarthy’s men having pressed Bakgaga.

The visitors kept pushing and they did score in the 22nd minute through Keanu Cupido, who netted from Bradley Ralani’s cross to make it 1-0 to City.

The momentum was with City and they were soon 2-0 up when Kermit Erasmus scored with a powerful shot from outside the box on the half-hour mark.

However, the Citizens went to sleep at the back and they were punished by Mduduzi Mdantsane, who netted to make it 2-1 in the 32nd minute.

The hosts finished the first-half strongly and they levelled matters in the 41st minute through Tshediso Patjie to make it 2-2 heading into the half-time break.

Baroka coach Wedson Nyirenda introduced Liberian striker Terrance Tisdell after the restart as the hosts looked to take the lead for the first time.

However, the City defence which was marshalled by former Orlando Pirates defender Abbubaker Mobara looked solid.

The visitors suffered a blow after the hour-mark as their influential captain Thamsanqa Mkhize went down injured and he was replaced by Tashreeq Morris.

Both teams launched attacks in the closing stages of the match, but they could not find a late winning goal and they drew 2-2 on the day.

Baroka (2) 2 (Mdantsane 32′, Patjie 41′)

City (2) 2 (Cupido 22′, Erasmus 30′)

Baroka: Chipezeze, Kgoetyane, Sibiya, Shozi, Selemela (Tisdell 62′), Mosele (Madigoe 48′), Mongae, Phiri Jr (Dickens 89′), Patjie, Mdantsane, Mbulu.

City: Leewenburgh, Mkhize (Morris 74′), Mobara, Cupido, Edmilson, Mokeke, Makola, David (Nodada 83′), Ralani (Martin 66′), Erasmus, Links.