Baroka knocks Mamelodi Sundowns out of the Telkom Knockout Cup. Baroka started brightly and weren’t overawed by the visitors all-around quality who gave a start to a few fringe players such as Mosa Lebusa, Reyaad Pieterse and Toni Silva in particular. Baroka FC defeated Mamelodi Sundowns 2-0 for a semi-final berth in the Telkom Knockout in Polokwane.
Sundowns though went about business slowly and with that found a few spaces with a couple of short passes finding Themba Zwane with a sight on goal. A long pass from Ricardo Nascimento landed perfectly for Gaston Sirino who turned his marker for a curling shot which Elvis Chipezeze impressively plugged out of the air before 20 minutes.
Bakgaga Ba Ga Mphahlele were handed a penalty and a chance to go in front after Lebusa controlled Talent Chawapihwa’s header with his hand inside the box. It provided Mduduzi Mdantsane the chance to put them in front and he did so despite taking more than two minutes after the referee’s whistle for a 22nd-minute lead.
As anticipated, the lead sparked an onslaught from Downs but a number of their offensive moves didn’t materialise due to poor passing and first touches coupled with poor finishing from Sirino. Just as their come back beckoned, Baroka almost made it two three minutes to halftime but Tebogo Sodi was unfortunate to head just outside the box from a corner.
Sundowns began the second half with loads of possession but little penetration in the offensive third of the field. A half-chance fell to them before the quarter spell but Chipezeze’s alertness thwarted the potential danger from Lyle Lakay.
The first substitution of the game unsurprisingly happened on their end with Jeremy Brockie taking the spot of Silva. Baroka with virtually their first opportunity from the break made it count when he forced Pieterse to sail the ball to his own net after a mix up with Lebusa on 67 minutes.
After two minutes, Brockie rose the highest to meet a corner but shaved the upright as Downs became desperate for a way back. The Tshwane giants threw their final dice to the table, with Phakamani Mahlambi and Aubrey Ngoma.
With seven minutes to go, Ngoma came up with a ferocious left-footer but Chipezeze equally so came up with a stunning save to deny him. Baroka came close to adding on the other hand and it also needed solid goalkeeping from Pieterse to keep out Mpho Kgoetyane’s cross-cum-shot.
This is their first ever victory in all competitions over Downs in their first-ever cup meeting in the PSL era too.
Teams:
Baroka: Chipezeze, Mabeba Makume, Gebhardt, Mdantsane, Sodi, Mosele, Chawaphiwa , Semenya, Makgantai, Sibiya.
Subs: Dlamini, Kgoetyane, Chivaviro, Madubanya, Nkausi, Kgaswane, Patjie.
Sundowns: Pieterse , Lakay, Morena, Nascimento , Lebusa, Mabunda, Jali, Sirino, Maboe , Zwane , Silva.
Subs: Mweene, Manyisa, Madisha, Mkhulise, Brockie, Mahlambi, Ngoma.
