Bottom club Baroka hold Chiefs to a thrilling 2-2 draw in Polokwane

19 March 2017 - 00:21 By Tiyani wa ka Mabasa, At Peter Mokaba Stadium
subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now
Joseph Molangoane of Kaizer Chiefs and Victor Letsoalo of Baroka FC in action during the Absa Premiership at Peter Mokaba Stadium on March 18, 2017 in Polokwane, South Africa.
Joseph Molangoane of Kaizer Chiefs and Victor Letsoalo of Baroka FC in action during the Absa Premiership at Peter Mokaba Stadium on March 18, 2017 in Polokwane, South Africa.
Image: Philip Maeta/Gallo Images

Premier Soccer League strugglers Baroka twice came from behind to deny Kaizer Chiefs victory as the two sides shared the spoils at Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Saturday evening. 

Word doing the rounds before the match in Polokwane was that Zion Christian Church (ZCC) bishops visited Baroka's training ground this week and prayed for the club to avoid relegation. 

And the home side may have failed to win and which means they have gone 16 league matches without victory, but they will take comfort from their fight back and hope their prayers would be answered come end of the season. 

Chiefs, on the other hand, missed out on moving up the table after dropping two points despite getting their noses in front twice in the match.

They remain fourth.  Amakhosi wouldn't have asked for a better start after taking the lead through Erick Mathoho inside six minutes.

  • Cape Town City go top despite draw at CelticLebogang Manyama missed a golden chance near the end of the game to hand Cape Town City a valuable victory in their title chase but they had to settle for just one away on a difficult trip to relegation-haunted Bloemfontein Celtic in the Absa Premiership on Saturday evening. 

Playing in his home province, the Bafana Bafana defender had the simplest of tap ins from three yards out from a cross by Bernard Parker. 

There was a quick reply from the home side when Victor Letsoalo levelled matters four minutes later.

Letsoalo's effort came off the underside of the crossbar and for a few seconds, everyone was left confused as to whether it was a goal or not. 

Referee Victor Gomes eventually decided to award the goal and replays show this was the correct decision. 

It was a fast paced match, but one that had few chances after the goals early on. Chiefs, however, did finish the stronger side in the first half. 

  • WATCH: Soccer player thanks his wife AND girlfriend on live TVIn what may have been a slip of the tongue, 'Man of the match' winner, Ghanaian player Mohammed Anas, thanked his wife and his girlfriend when a sports reporter caught up with him after the match. 

Baroka were caught defending like amateurs on the stroke of halftime and whether it was a penalty or not, Gomes decided captain Oleleng Shaku had made a foul while on the ground and pointed to the penalty spot. 

Despite Baroka's protests, Parker stepped up and converted to restore Chiefs' lead heading into the break. 

Chiefs continued to press on after the break, but Tshabalala's shot from distance was nowhere close to hitting the target in the 48th minute. 

  • Ajax still winless in 2017 after home draw against FS Stars Ajax Cape Town are still waiting for their first victory of the year as Mohamed Anas grabbed two goals for Free State Stars to secure a good away point in a 2-2 draw in the Premier Soccer League clash at the Athlone Stadium on Friday night. 

The two sides started making changes as they looked to improve their play and for Baroka, Mxolisi Kunene's introduction for Letsoalo on the hour mark proved vital. 

With ten minutes remaining, Kunene took matters into his own hands from near the centre line, made a run for it and with Chiefs defenders ball watching, he went on to get the equaliser when he beat Itumeleng Khune from close range.

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Mbongeni Mzimela scored scored two penalty kicks as Platinum Stars progressed to the next round of the CAF Confederation Cup after a dramatic 3-2 aggregate win over Uganda's Vipers SC.

Stars lost 1-0 away in Kampala but their 3-1 triumph at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg on Saturday evening saw them through.

Other PSL results:

Friday, 17 March:

Ajax Cape Town 2 - 2 Free State Stars

Saturday, 18 March:

Bloemfontein Celtic 0 - 0 Cape Town City

  - TMG Digital/TMG Sport

subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now