Baroka FC put in a solid display to hold hosts Cape Town City 0-0 in a DStv Premiership match at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday evening.
The result sees Bakgaga climb to 10th place on the log on 23 points, while the Citizens remain seventh on 27 points and have now gone eight league matches without a win. The result could have been worse for the Cape side, with their opponents having the better scoring opportunities but failing to capitalise on them.
Cape Town City were responsible for almost all of the attacking play in the opening half hour, which included a chance for Fagrie Lakay that was denied by a great piece of defending from Denwin Farmer, a shot just over the target from Terrence Mashego, and a low effort from a tight angle by Craig Martin that was scooped up by goalkeeper Oscarine Masuluke.
Baroka gradually gained a foothold and began offering a sporadic threat of their own, with their best moment arriving in the 40th minute, as a mazy run from Kgodiso Monama ended with the midfielder shooting just over the crossbar.
However, neither side was able to ripple the back of the net in the first 45 minutes as the first half ended with the score locked at 0-0.
Baroka were the first to threaten in the second half, with Evidence Makgopa latching onto a ball pulled across the penalty area before slicing a left-footed shot high and wide in the 56th minute.
Two minutes later the Bakgaga striker was guilty of perhaps the worst miss of the season thus far, as Joslin Kamatuka’s great work down the left of the area gave Makgopa a virtual open goal to aim for at the back post, but he somehow steered a shot wide.
On 72 minutes the Limpopo side threatened from the flanks again. This time Thasanqa Masiya’s cross from the right picked out Kamatuka, who sent a glancing header just wide – with a desperate Makgopa lunging in to try and turn the ball home, though he was marginally too slow to react.
Chances dried up in the dying minutes of the game, with Baroka seemingly happy to pick up a valuable away point, while the Citizens lacked the nous and penetration to threaten a winning goal as the full-time whistle drew nearer.
City will be back in DStv Premiership action next Saturday, 10 April, with a clash at home to SuperSport United, while Baroka’s next league clash is at home to Kaizer Chiefs on 15 April.
Cape Town City 0
Baroka FC 0
City: Leeuwenburgh, Mkhize, Fielies, Potouridis (Mobara 74’), Mashego, Mokeke, Nodada, Ajagun (Mdantsane 59’), Martin (Morris 74’), Ngoma, Lakay (Ralani 60’)
Baroka: Masuluke, Mphahlele, Sibiya, Makume, Farmer, Mosele, Mgaga, Masiya (Gebhardt 81’), Monama (Mbulu 73’), Kamatuka, Makgopa© Backpage TXT.
SOURCED FROM THE PSL WEBSITE.
