HOME DEFEAT
Embarrassing own goal and brace from Baroka FC star sink PE side
CHIPPA United scored an embarrassing own goal as they faltered at home, going down 3-1 to Baroka FC in a Premier Soccer League fixture at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium last night.
The defeat was Chippa’s second loss this season, after a 1-0 beating away by Orlando Pirates in the season opener.
A brace from Gift Motupa and an own goal through James Okwuosa saw the Limpopo side record their first win against Chippa in a league game, after losing both their home and away fixtures last season.
But most importantly, the victory saw Baroka FC collect their first three points in the league, after playing two consecutive draws against Polokwane City and Orlando Pirates.
The Chilli Boys took the game to the visitors in the first half, forcing Baroka into defence mode in the first 20 minutes.
The home side’s first chance at goal came in the 17th minute, when an Abel Mabaso strike flew over the cross bar.
Bakgaga then warmed up to the game and started knocking on Chippa’s defence.
The visitors first shot at goal came through Mduduzi Mdantsane, in the 22nd minute, but his shot was caught by Chippa goalkeeper Brighton Mhlongo.
Minutes later, Lucky Nguzana tried his luck but his attempt was also saved by an awake Mhlongo.
After a mistake at the back, Baroka grabbed the lead when Chippa defender Okwuosa beat his own goalkeeper to scored the opening own goal of the game on the 40-minute mark.
Chippa went into the half-time break 1-0 down.
Play became physical in the second half as the pressure mounted on both sides.
Chippa were awarded a penalty after the ball hit a Baroka player’s arm and it was converted into a goal by veteran striker Katlego Mashego in the 56th minute.
Motupa, who came from the bench, paced his way to Chippa’s goal posts to beat Mhlongo in the 64th minute and he placed the ball in the right corner of the net.
Later, an attempt by Chippa striker Mark Mayambela hit the side of the net.
Chippa United kept on pressing in search of an equaliser, but their attempts were fruitless.
Motupa’s second goal demolished Chippa’s chances of at least getting a point.
Bernard Morrison marked his first league start for Orlando Pirates in almost a year with his first goal for the club as the Buccaneers won a second game of the new league season by beating Ajax Cape Town 1-0, Mark Gleeson reports.
The Buccaneers increased their haul of league points to seven out of a possible nine.
Ajax remain winless after their first three games and are second from bottom of the standings with just one point.
Thamsanqa Gabuza applied an all-important flick onto a long throw-in to find Morrison unmarked at the back post and he was able to steer it home.
There was a lack of match fitness in both camps.
Pirates profited from poor marking and the early goal allowed much-needed confidence.
Ajax might have had an equaliser within two minutes, when Thabo Mosadi picked up an errant ball and launched a counter attack, but shot wide.
Gabuza should have made it 2-0 in the 27th minute, but had his effort blocked.
He also had the ball in the back of the net early in the second half but was rightly ruled offside.
SuperSport United saved the best for the closing stages to beat Platinum Stars 2-0 at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville, Gleeson also reports.
Sifiso Myeni, who replaced Dove Wome in the 76th minute, unleashed a powerful shot from outside the penalty box to beat Stars goalkeeper Mbongeni Mzimela in the 84th minute – and Jeremy Brockie put matters beyond doubt into optional time.
For United, the hard-fought win has moved them to fifth place.
SuperSport play Chippa on Tuesday.