Baroka now in pole position

Baroka FC are now in pole position to retain their Absa Premiership status after scoring a controversial 2-1 win in their promotional play-off over Limpopo rivals Black Leopards at Peter Mokaba Stadium yesterday afternoon.

Bakgaga are now top of the three-team mini league, two points ahead of Stellenbosch FC, whom they host at the same venue on Saturday. Leopards are third with one point and will be feeling hard done by the referee for allowing Baroka’s first goal to stand.

Yesterday’s match lived up to its billing with the teams playing some good, yet guarded football.

Things got off to a bad start for Lidoda Duvha when in the 11th minute Bakgaga’s Thapelo Maleka collided with keeper, Rotshsidzwa Muleka, knocking him out after the striker’s knee hit him on the head. To Leopards’ disbelief referee Khulasande Qongqo didn’t stop play and Maleka regained possession and laid a pass for Victor Letsoalo who looped it into the net for the opening goal. The keeper had to be replaced.

Bakgaga made it even more difficult for Lidoda Duvha to come back when Letsoalo (above) headed home his second of the match to make it 2-0.

Leopards came back a better side in the second half and pinned the home team back and their persistence was duly rewarded when Oscarine Masuluke fluffed what looked to be a routine catch and the ball kindly fell for Mziwokuthula Zimu, who pushed it into the net to half the deficit.

Jean-Pierre Luscuito’s team came close to finding an equaliser when Zimu’s header beat Masuluke, but ricocheted off the cross bar. Lidoda Duvha continued to push looking for an equaliser but it was not to be their day.

Leopards’ next match is in a week at Athlone Stadium against Stellenbosch.