If Baroka FC needed a flip in their relegation battle, they finally got it on Sunday after stunning Absa Premiership defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns 1-0 at the Dobsonville Stadium.
Ananias Gebhardt was the hero of the 14th placed side scoring the lone goal of the match in 20th minute to take their tally to 28.
Sundowns dominated the match from the start as they searched for an early goal which would have unsettled the Baroka defence. Dlamini, Baroka’s goalkeeper, was forced into an early save.
The hosts broke down the right-hand side and Sibusiso Vilakazi played a dangerous cross into the Baroka box, and Dlamini produced a good save to deny the young full-back at the near-post.
The Bakgaga were struggling to contain the hosts and Lyle Lakay, who was looking lively down the left-hand side for the Brazilians, forced Dlamini into a brilliant save with a curling effort.
Baroka then claimed the ascendancy in the 20th minute with Ananias Gebhardt sending a free header past the Brazilians goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene
With the half-time break fast approaching, Sirini broke down the right-hand side after Baroka defender Sibiya had miscued his header. But Ngcongca’s attempted cross to Zwane was easily claimed by Dlamini.
It should have been 2-0 to Baroka at the stroke of half-time when Masiya was sent through on goal, but Mweene made a fantastic save from a one-on-one situation to deny the attacker.
Sundowns dominated possession after the restart, but they were wasteful in front of goal as Promise Mkhuma failed to control the ball well after being sent through on goal.
Before Sirino fired over the crossbar from inside the Baroka box after being sent up by Dube as pressure mounted on the Bakgaga’s defence.
Mosimane then reacted with Jali and Jose Ali Meza making way for Sibusiso Vilakazi and Promise Mkhuma as the hosts went in search of an equalizer.
Dlamini was simply unbeatable on the day as he produced three brilliant saves in quick succession to deny Madisha, Lebusa and Lakay.
Baroka then sat back in the closing stages of the match and in the end, they emerged 1-0 winners over Sundowns on the day.
As a result, the Bakgaga move up two places to 13th on the log and open up a two-point gap to the relegation playoff berth.
