Baroka boosted their survival bid after claiming a narrow 1-0 victory over Kaizer Chiefs at the FNB Stadium in the Absa Premiership on Saturday, writes DYLAN APPOLIS.

Amakhosi came into this encounter on a six-match unbeaten run in the league, with the last defeat coming against Cape Town City in January.

Meanwhile, Bakgaga conceded three consecutive defeat in the league, with their most recent loss coming against Golden Arrows when they suffered a 1-0 defeat on 13 March 2019.

When the two sides last went head-to-head, both sides were forced to share the spoils after playing out to a 1-1 draw at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on 18 August 2018.

The home side seemed to have found their rhythm early on as Hendrick Ekstein produced the first effort at goal during the opening exchanges of the game, but the midfielder blazed his effort wide of the target.

Baroka had a chance of their own in the 12th minute when Matome Mabebe whipped an inviting ball into the area which deflected narrowly wide of the target.

Philani Zulu should have broke the deadlock after 22 minutes of play, but the Chiefs man blazed his volley wide of the target after latching on to a pass from Bernard Parker.

Amakhosi were dealt a major blow in the 37th minute when Teenage Hadebe was forced off the field through a head injury and was subsequently replaced by Ryan Moon.

However, the game went into the half time interval with the scoreline locked at 0-0.

Bakgaga came out with more intent in the second half and nearly opened the scoring early on when Rodwell Chinyengetere pinched the ball from Andriamirado Andrianarimanana before attempting to lob Bruce Bvuma, but he failed to get his effort to come down in time to hit the target.

Moon had a glorious chance to hand Chiefs the lead after 52 minutes when he rounded Elvis Chipezeze after being picked out by Parker. However, he fired his effort wide of the target.

Tshidiso Patjie had a chance to put his side ahead in the 61st minute, but his attempt at goal was blocked by Kgotso Moleko.

However, Patjie did managed to put his side ahead five minutes later when he unleashed his strike from distance to find the top corner.

At the other end, Sundowns pressed forward and looked for an equaliser in the 73rd minute when Moleko tried his luck from distance, but his speculative effort goes well wide of the target.

Ekstein missed a golden opportunity to draw his side level five minutes later when he produced a shot at goal after he was picked out by Parker, but the midfielders fired his effort straight into the hands of Chipezeze.

Amakhosi pressed forward in the closing stages of the game as Siphosakhe Ntiya-Ntiya tired a spectacular effort from long range, but he could not quite steer his effort on target.

However, Bakgaga held on to their one-goal lead over Amakhosi to claim all three points at the FNB Stadium.