Result: Baroka FC 1-1 Kaizer Chiefs
Date: 05 September 2020
Venue: Bidvest Stadium
Kaizer Chiefs' trophy drought will extend for another season after failing to secure the Absa Premiership title on the final day of the season.
Ernst Middendorp kept faith with the same team that overcame Chippa United on Wednesday while Baroka were without the suspended Sbonelo Ngubane.
With both sides desperate to claim three points, the early stages of the first half was played a fiery tempo as Lebogang Manyama squandered a good chance in the opening 10 minutes.
Elvis Chipezeze had a busy opening half as the Baroka shot-stopper was called upon to deny Samir Nurkovic from a tight angle before he kept out Reeve Frosler's powerful effort midway through the half.
However, Chiefs got the breakthrough six minutes before the break as Nurkovic teed up Billiat, who skipped past his marker to slot into the far corner for his second goal in two games.
Baroka did show signs of fight in the second half, which resulted in the equaliser on 60 minutes as Manuel Kambala rose above his marker to nod past Itumeleng Khune.
Middendop responded with a triple change on 69 minutes as Dumisani Zuma, Anthony Akumu and Lazarous Kambole were thrown on to bolster the attack.
With time running out, the Soweto giants threw bodies forward in search of a second goal but they were nearly caught out on the counter-attack at times.
However, Baroka stifled Chiefs at every attempt in the latter stages of the half to deny Chiefs a win while securing their top flight status in the process.
Baroka: 16. Chipezeze; 5. Makume, 33. Farmer, 6. Sibiya, 3. Gebhardt, 13. Mosele, 17. Kambala, Masiya, 10. Phiri, 42. Mgaga, 27. Makgopa.
Subs: 30. A. Dlamini, 2. Kgoetyane, 43. Sampson, Madondo, 38. Nkabinde, 46. Mahangwahaya, 20. Patjie, 9. Mbulu, 15. Mogale.
Chiefs: 16. Khune, 18. Moleko, 3. Mathoho, 20. Sasman, 4. Cardoso, 31. Katsande, 8. Manyama, 25. Parker, 39. Frosler, 11. Billiat, 9. Nurkovic.
Subs: 44. Bvuma, 6. Baccus, 5. Agay, 2. Mphahlele, 7. Kambole, 21. Zulu, 30. Ngezana, 28. Zuma.
