Putsche saves the day as Baroka FC draw with City
Cape Town City and Baroka FC played out an entertaining 2-2 draw in their Absa Premiership clash at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday night.
The Citizens needed a late goal from Roland Putsche to salvage a share of the spoils, but still missed out on the chance to move into the top three, while Bakgaga could have gone a full five points clear of the relegation zone had they hung on for victory.
The result sees the teams in sixth and 14th place respectively.
City created the first clear chance of the match, with a 10th-minute corner kick seeing Tariq Fielies head toward goal, but Baroka defender Matome Kgoetyane was well-placed to clear the effort off his own line.
Baroka offered some sporadic attacking threat, but generally the Cape side looked the more capable team going forward.
They created another good chance in the 37th minute when Roland Putsche got ahead of his marker to meet Ayanda Patosi’s cross, but he put his header wide of the mark.
The Citizens’ goal finally arrived in the 45th minute. A fine cross from Ebrahim Seedat saw Siphelele Mthembu send a glancing header onto the inside of the far post – the rebound off the upright was fumbled by Elvis Chipezeze, allowing Patosi a tap-in from close range.
The goal was credited to Patosi, but television replays suggested Mthembu’s header crossed the line in totality after it struck the woodwork and the strike may yet be reassigned.
Baroka struck back five minutes into the second half, with Matome Mabeba providing a fine cross from the left by-line and Tebogo Sodi got ahead of Thato Mokeke to glance the ball home at the near post.
The goal, which came almost out of nowhere, sparked Bakgaga into life and in the 55th minute they earned a fortuitous penalty.
Goodman Mosele’s cross from the right struck the hand of Mokeke at close range and the referee pointed to the spot.
Young striker Jemondre Dickens confidently converted the kick in the 56th minute to put the Limpopo side 2-1 up.
City almost struck back immediately through a long-range thunderbolt from Putsche.
The Austrian hammered a shot toward goal and saw his effort rebound off the underside of the crossbar.
The hosts mounted a barrage of attacks in the dying stages, managing an equaliser in the 85th minute, as Putsche’s effort was rewarded with a goal. Latching onto a loose ball in the penalty area, he fired home through a crowd of bodies.
City will return to Absa Premiership action in midweek when they host Free State Stars this Wednesday, while Baroka will be away to Orlando Pirates on Tuesday January 22. –