City squander several chances against Baroka

CAPE TOWN CITY slumped to their fourth consecutive defeat in going down 2-0 to Baroka FC at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane yesterday.

There were scoring opportunities aplenty for the Capetonians. Judas Moseamedi hit the upright and fired two other chances wide of goal. Thabo Nodada shot wide, Lyle Lakay went close and Thami Mkhize was desperately unlucky not to get a penalty when he was clearly fouled in the penalty area.

But, as it always is in this cruel game of football, don’t let the opponent off the hook; invariably they’ll hit back and punish you. For City, it was a schoolboy mistake that allowed Baroka to take the lead in the 35th minute. The Polokwane side scored from an intricately worked freekick through Mpho Kgaswane – but, to be brutally honest, the goal was only scored because the City wall broke up during the routine.

With Baroka content to sit back and defend their advantage, there was only one team in it the second half. It was oneway traffic, but the Capetonians continued to squander chance after chance – Moseamedi, Craig Martin, Mkhize and substitute Shane Roberts all failed to make the most of inviting opportunities.

With City pushing numbers forward in search of an equaliser, they let themselves short at the back and Baroka hit them on the counter in the 90th minute, with Kgaswane’s trusty left foot again the scoring the goal.