POLOKWANE – An 85th minute goal at the Peter Mokaba Stadium saw Baroka FC edging out Free State Stars 1-0 in what was an absorbing Saturday afternoon’s PSL clash.
The Limpopo side probably just about deserved the win, although Stars, with only one point to their credit this season, did have a couple of chances to have claimed something from the game themselves.
In a lively first half, it was Baroka who shaded proceedings due to their greater threat on goal.
The first chance arrived in the 17th minute when Lucky Nguzana was played clean through on goal, but the former junior international got his angles wrong as he steered the ball wide of the beckoning goal.
Sipho Moeti had his long-range grass-cutter well-saved by Stars keeper Badra Sangare on the hour mark, while Ea Lla Koto had a chance when Nhlanhla Vilakazi's crisp drive from distance just missed the target.
Stars looked set to go in front a few minutes before half time when Sinethemba Jantjie left the home defence for dead, but Baroka keeper Virgil Vries did superbly to intervene as Jantjie tried to go around him.
There was another opportunity for the hosts before the break, but Moeti's powerful drive at the near post was well-saved by Sangare.
Apart from an Nguzana shot which flew over the bar, a tightly-contested second half meant it was only in the 76th minute when the next chance arrived, but from close range, Gift Motupa steered a corner wide.
Bakgaga should have been awarded a penalty 12 minutes from time when the nimble-footed Moeti was clipped by Bangali Keita in the box, but the referee surprisingly decided to wave play on.
But the home side continued to push for a goal and they made the breakthrough five minutes from time when Mpho Kgaswane stormed down the left flank and into the box before his shot deflected off a defender and into the net.
Nguzana missed a sitter late on, but it didn't prove costly as Bakgaga moved joint top of the PSL table with two wins and two draws from their opening four matches.