Baroka stun Black Leopards

DESPITE Oscarine Masuluke’s howlers‚ Baroka FC beat Black Leopards 2-1 at the Peter Mokaba Stadium yesterday to take control of the promotional playoffs.

Bakgaga‚ who finished 15th in the Premier Division‚ sit at the summit with four points after the halfway mark.

Stellenbosch FC are second with two points, while Leopards languish at the bottom with just one point after two rounds.

Lidoda Duvha came into this match confident‚ pumped up by their unbeaten run against Baroka and their dominance over Stellenbosch in their first game of the playoffs.

But Baroka stunned Leopards, putting themselves in a comfortable position in their battle for survival.

Leopards almost stole a point thanks to Masuluke’s butterfingers.

The gangly goalkeeper’s porous hands allowed Mziwokuthula Zimu to score an easy goal‚ a simple tap-in from an open net.

Moments later, Masuluke fluffed another routine save, but quickly regrouped as there was no challenge from Leopards’ attackers.

Baroka then scored in controversial fashion.

Sipho Moeti’s trailing knee knocked out Leopards goalkeeper Rotshidzwa Muleka.

Instead of instantly stopping the match‚ the referee allowed play to continue and Baroka took advantage.

Moeti played the ball back to Victor Letsoala who chipped it over Tshivhavhudzi Ndou and Jean Munganga‚ much to the frustration of Lidoda Duvha who stormed the referee.

Muleka was replaced by Aubrey Mathibe.

Matome Kgoetyane twisted and turned Leopards’ defence before whipping an inviting cross that Letsoala headed past Mathibe to complete his brace.

On Saturday, Bakgaga host Stellenbosch before going to Thohoyandou for their last match against Leopards on June 17.