JOHANNESBURG – Baroka FC completed the Limpopo province double act as they beat defending champions Cape Town City 1-0 in a Telkom Knockout clash at the new Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Sunday afternoon.
This follows Saturday’s action at the old Peter Mokaba Stadium next door, where Polokwane City disposed of Ajax Cape Town 4-3 on penalties.
At the venue built for the Fifa 2010 World Cup, a strike by Zimbabwean midfielder Talent Chawapiwa in the 15th minute was the difference between the two sides.
The hosts – the surprise log leaders in the Absa Premiership after having had to playoff to retain their top-flight status at the end of last season – seemed the more attacking unit.
City seemed to focus on their build-up play, but there were simply too many square and back passes for a team of their calibre, who have now suffered four defeats in a row.
Left winger Ayanda Patosi had some of the best goal-scoring chances of the day for the visitors, but like several of his teammates, struggled to get his shots on target.
Coach Benni McCarthy introduced experienced midfielder Teko Modise and young Craig Martin in the second half in a bid to get the Citizens into a more attacking mode, but the changes had no impact on the final scoreline.
The Capetonians had the ball in the back of the Baroka net from a corner kick in the closing quarter, but the goal was disallowed with the ball deemed to have touched a City hand.
Thereafter, it was almost impossible for City to get near the Baroka penalty area as the hosts rested on their one-goal lead and parked the proverbial bus in front of the home team’s goal area.
Baroka will change their focus to league action for Wednesday’s away trip to Amazulu, while City will be at home to Free State Stars on the same day.