Baroka hold Kaizer Chiefa

KAIZER CHIEFS failed to gain revenge on Baroka FC after the sides played to a 1-1 draw at FNB Stadium yesterday.

Erick Mathoho returned to the starting line-up after his Covid-19 quarantine, while Ramahlwe Mpahlele remained side-lined with injury and Bernard Parker was suspended.

Baroka had the first decent attempt on goal with a quarter of an hour game when Collins Makgaga let fly from range with one that skidded nastily off the wet surface and Chiefs goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi fumbled initially but reclaimed at the second attempt.

Chiefs responded with their first real attempt eight minutes later when Lebogang Manyama found an unmarked Reeve Frosler at the back post but his first-time volleyed attempt went narrowly wide of Baroka shot-stopper Oscarine Masuluke’s left-hand post.

Shortly before the half-hour mark, the visitors won a corner. The ball was whipped in by Nhlanhla Mgaga and Ananias Gebhardt towered above the Chiefs defenders but headed narrowly over the bar.

Bakgaga goalie Masuluke had a good first half and did brilliantly on the stroke of half-time when he came out to punch away Daniel Cardoso’s pinpoint ball destined for Samir Nurkovic.

Baroka broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute. Chiefs midfielder Happy Mashiane gave away the free-kick in a dangerous position after fouling Bonginkosi Makume. Mgaga delivered and Evidence Makgopa headed back across goal for Thamsanqa Masiya to finish.

Amakhosi boss Gavin Hunt rung the changes in response, bringing off Mathoho for Leonardo Castro and Kearyn Baccus for Mashiane.

With 20 minutes to go, Manyama delivered the ball into the box for Castro, who had peeled off to the far post, but the Colombian’s header was wide of the target.

Soon after, Castro almost bundled it in from Nkosingiphile Ngcobo’s whipped delivery in behind the Baroka defence.

Chiefs deservedly equalised in the 77th minute. Castro found Frosler on the right-hand side overlap and the wing-back cut the ball back into the area only for Goodman Mosele to divert the ball into his own net while attempting to make the interception.

Amakhosi centre-back Teddy Akumu then came mightily close in the 85th minute when he let fly from outside the box and it took a wicked deflection off Bakgaga centre-back Denwin Farmer before grazing the corner of Masuluke’s left-hand crossbar and upright.

Thoka Matsimela’s side held firm in the face of some intense Chiefs pressure to come away with a share of the spoils. — Kick Off.