Absa Premiership
Resutlt: Mamelodi Sundowns 0-1 Baroka FC
Date: 30 August 2020
Venue: Dobsonville Stadium
Kaizer Chiefs will finish the weekend top of the Absa Premiership table after Mamelodi Sundowns suffered a 1-0 loss to Baroka FC on Sunday night.
Pitso Mosimane made one change from the side that beat Kaizer Chiefs on Thursday, as Andile Jali replaced the injured Rivaldo Coetzee in the heart of the midfielder.
Sundowns were given a big incentive to claim three points as Chiefs had suffered defeat to Bidvest Wits minutes before this encounter got underway.
It was no surprise to see Mosimane's charges dominating from the onset, but Baroka did well thwart to the Sundowns attackers in the early stages of the first half.
However, it was Dylan Kerr's side who got the opening goal against the run of play as defender Ananias Gebhardt rose above his marker to nod home his first league goal of the season from an in-swinging corner.
Sundowns went in search of an immediate equaliser but found a resolute Baroka defence who managed to snuff every cross and pass in the final third.
Mosimane opted for a couple changes shortly after the restart, with Jali and Jose Ali Meza making way for Sibusiso Vilakazi and Promise Mkhuma as the hosts went in search of an equaliser.
However, Vilakazi's evening only lasted nine minutes as he was forced off on 62 minutes following a tackle from Patjie. He was replaced by Lebohang Maboe.
Sundowns continued to push for an equaliser and were nearly rewarded on 76 minutes but Maboe was unable to take advantage of Gaston Sirino's dummy at the far post.
Sundowns launched everything forward in the latter stages of the second half, but Baroka shot-stopper Ayanda Dlamini and his defence pulled off a couple vital blocks to secure a vital win that takes them out of the relegation zone.
Here's how they lined up:
Sundowns: 1. Mweene, 16. Ngcongca, 7. Lakay, 5. Lebusa, 2. Madisha, 15. Jali, 21. Mkhulise, 8. Kekana, 10. Sirino, 18. Zwane, 23. Meza.
Subs: 30. Pieterse, 26. Makgalwa, 17. Mahlambi, 13. Mabunda, 11. Vilakazi, 3. Nascimento, 33. Maboe, 4. Langerman, 36. Mkhuma.
Baroka: 30. Dlamini, 44. Masiya, 3. Gebhardt, 42. Mgaga, 5. Makume, 27. Makgopa, 14. Mosele, 6. Sibiya, 17. Kambala, 33. Farmer, 20. Patjie.
Subs: 32. Molapo, 10. Phiri, 43. Sampson, 11. Selemela, 9. Mbulu, 39. Gadla, 15. Mogale, 46. Mahangwahaya, 38. Nkabinde.
