HIGHLANDS PARK SECURE VICTORY OVER BAROKA
Highlands Park secured a 2-1 win over Baroka FC in an Absa Premiership match at the Makhulong Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Despite the victory, the Lions of the North remained ninth on the league standings, while Bakgaga also remained 13th on the table.
The Lions of the North came very close to grabbing an early goal through hard-working midfielder Ryan Rae.
The 27-year-old player’s effort was saved on the goal-line by Baroka goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze 10 minutes into the game.
The hosts were left to rue that miss as Bakgaga broke the deadlock through their inspirational captain Mduduzi Mdantsane.
Orebotse Mongae’s free-kick was headed home by Mdantsane to make it 1-0 to Baroka -beating keeper Marlo Heugh in the 16th minute.
The hosts then took control of the match Mothobi Mvala working hard in the middle of the park.
Highlands Park managed to restore parity when an unmarked Sello Motsepe headed past Chipezeze to make it 1-1 on the stroke of halftime.
The two teams were locked at 1-1 at the interval.
The Lions of the North took the lead for the first time seven minutes into the second half and it was Mvala, who scored.
The attacking midfielder netted with a header from Sabelo Nyembe’s cross to make it 2-1 to Highlands Park.
Baroka coach Wedson Nyirenda responded by pulling out Siyabonga Vilane and he introduced Jemondre Dickens.
The promising attacker had an opportunity to make an immediate impact just after the hour-mark, but he hit the side-netting.
Both teams launched attacks in the closing stages of the match as they searched for a late goal.
Heugh had to make a magnificent save to deny Goodman Mosele to ensure that Highlands Park secured a 2-1 win over Baroka.
Highlands (1) 2 (Motsepe 45′, Mvala 52′)
Baroka (1) 1 (Mdantsane 16′)
Highlands: Heugh, Fransman, Ramoraka, Mokoena, Motsepe, Rae, Mvala, Mogaila (Haoseb 83′), Mahlangu, Nyembe (Bunting 90’+2), Ndoro (Mbatha 60′).
Baroka: Chipezeze, Kgoetyane, Gebhardt, Mongae (Makgaka 62′), Sibiya, Patjie, Mosele, Madigoe, Mdantsane (Mabeba 67′), Semenya, Vilane (Dickens 55′).
