BAROKA EASE INTO NEDBANK CUP QUARTERS
Baroka FC brushed side Steenburg United 2-0 in the Nedbank Cup Last 16 match at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
As a result, Bakgaga booked their place in the quarter-finals, while United were eliminated from the tournament.
United, who are campaigning in the Western Cape ABC Motsepe League, looked lively in the opening stages of the game.
The visitors were awarded a free-kick in a promising area six minutes into the game, but Damian Basadien placed his effort from the set-piece over the crossbar.
Bakgaka then took control of the match and they looked dangerous from corner-kicks with United struggling to defend against aerial balls.
In the 26th minute, Mpho Kgaswane delivered a corner-kick into the visitors’ box and Albert Mothupa headed the ball just over the crossbar from close range.
The hosts continued to threaten from corner-kicks as Abdi Banda, who was unmarked, headed narrowly wide of the target just after the half-hour mark.
United came close to breaking the deadlock in the 41st minute when Dimetre Hendricks’ header was brilliantly saved by Baroka goalkeeper Ayanda Dlamini.
Almost immediately at the other end, Baroka took the lead when Gift Motupa’s low cross was finished off by Mudzunga Sidumo, who made it 1-0 to the hosts.
Baroka were deservedly leading 1-0 at the interval against United.
The hosts continued to threaten from corner-kicks after the restart as Banda’s header went over the crossbar with United keeper Abdurghman White beaten in the 55th minute.
A quick move down the left-hand side on the hour-mark saw Basadien try his luck from range and his long range effort wide just over the crossbar with Dlamini looking on.
It was end-to-end stuff as Kgaswane’s effort was cleared off the goal line by United defender Edmund Peterson at the other end as Baroka looked to double their lead.
Bakgaka were very unfortunate not to make it 2-0 in the 72nd minute when Motupa set-up Sidumo, who beat White, but his effort hit the crossbar.
It should have been 1-1 after Baroka keeper Dlamini dropped the ball and Wassem Bernard pounced, but somehow the United striker hit the crossbar.
The visitors were left to rue that missed chance as Tebogo Sodi finished off Motupa’s low cross to make it 2-0 to Baroka in the 83rd minute following a quick move.
Baroka then contained United in the latter stages of the game and they secured a 2-0 win over the lower division side.
Baroka (1) 2 (Sidumo 42′, Sodi 83′)
Steenburg (0) 0
Baroka: Dlamini, Kgoetyane, Banda, Sidumo (Makgaka 76′, Sodi 81′)), Mothupa, Mabotja, Madubanya, Moeti (Ngalande 54′), Kgaswane, Mdantsane, Motupa.
Steenburg: White, Van Reenen, Moegamat, Pietersen, Maqoko, Jodwana, Fredericks (Hendricks 76′), George, Basadien (Davids 83′), Qambela (Rhoda 46′), Heleni.
