Baroka escape relegation

BAROKA FC will remain in the Absa Premiership after their 1-1 promotion-relegation play-offs draw against Black Leopards at Thohoyandou Stadium on Saturday.

The result saw Baroka top the three-team mini-log with eight points‚ Leopards finished second on five‚ and Stellenbosch FC third with just a point.

Leopards came into the game needing a win by two goals to earn promotion from the National First Division.

Victor Letsoala scored a 34thminute opener for Baroka that appeared to all but put paid to Leopards’ chances‚ and guarantee Bakgaga a second season in the PSL.

But Letsoala turned villain as he conspired to transform a mission impossible for Leopards‚ now needing three goals‚ into a task almost doable‚ as the forward was redcarded in the 47th minute.

Siphelele Ntshangase’s 66thminute equalising penalty lifted the vocal home crowd. But Baroka hung on for the draw.

Baroka started the play-offs with a 1-1 draw away against Stellenbosch. They had done the hard work with their successive victories at home against Leopards then Stellenbosch FC that followed to sit on seven points‚ and with the advantage in their favour going into Saturday’s final match.

For Leopards‚ their third successive attempt at promotion through the play-offs again resulted in failure.

Baroka‚ who entered the playoffs as 15th-placed PSL finishers‚ a position above relegated Highlands Park in 16th‚ have some mistakes to rectify from a naïve first PSL campaign as they remain in the topflight next season. — TimesLIVE