Baroka succumbed to a 3-0 defeat against Maritzburg United in an Absa Premiership encounter on Friday night, writes MARSHALL GOUTS.
The homeside started the brighter of the two sides with Mohau Mokate firing a header off target in the opening exchanges. Baroka gradually got into their rhythm and almost took the lead in the eighth minute with a swift counter attacking move when Mpho Kgawane’s shot was comfortaly saved.
The visitors continues to make inroads in attack but a mixture of poor indecisiveness in the final half and poor finishing was to be their downfall.
Mokate had another chance in the 19th minute but his strike forced a save from Virgil Vries at the near post.
Mokate, however did play a role in the Maritzburg opener as he set up Evans Rusike in the 31st minute who in turn got the better of Shaku Dineo and rifled the ball home.
Baroka upped their tempoin trying to get an equaliser but failed to create problems as Maritzburg went into the half time break with a 1 – 0 lead.
The homeside made the first change of the game as Bandile Shandu made way for Brian Onyango, a the move that seemed to pay dividends as Maritzburg doubled their lead in the 53rd-minute with Rusike grabbing a brace. Baroka made two changes of their own as Rethabile Soso and Richard Matlogo on forSiphelele Ntshangase and Letladi Madubanya respectively.
However a mere minute after the change Maritzburg all but sealed the game as Lebogang Maboe’s defence splitting pass found Siphesile Ndlovu who made no mistake in wrapping up the encounter.
The full-time whistle blew as Baroka were condemed to another humiliating lost after going down 4-0 to Mamalodi Sundowns in the week.
Maritzburg XI: 31. Ofori, 3. Sanoka, 25. Xulu, 16. Fransman, 26. Shandu (Onyango, 46’), 15. Maboe, 8. Ndlovu, 13. Makaringe, 19. Rusike (Atouba, 77’), 22. Mokate (Fileccia, 71’), 29. Mekoa.
Baroka XI: 16. Vries, 6. Shaku, 2. Kgoetyane, 24. Banda, 21. Moeti, 15. Mothupa, 10. Ntshangase (Soso, 56’), 23. Kgaswane, 4, Madubanya (Matloga, 65’), 8. Mdantsane, 17. Ngalande (Mosele, 79’).
Photo: Gallo Images
