Baroka down AmaZulu to boost survival hopes

Tshidiso Patjie scored a late goal for Baroka FC in a 1-0 Absa Premiership win over AmaZulu at Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Sunday afternoon.

Victory moves the Limpopo club up to 12th place on the log standings and four points clear of the relegation zone with two games remaining. AmaZulu remain in 11th, two points above Bakgaga.

Usuthu were the better team in the opening exchanges of the clash, but failed to convert any of their chances with Marc van Heerden notably sending his free-kick attempt inches over the crossbar in the 10th minute.

Siyabonga Mbatha has impressed in goal for AmaZulu throughout the campaign and the shot-stopper had to be at his best once more to keep the score goalless heading into the break.

Mduduzi Mdantsane burst through on goal and looked sure to score only to be denied by the unmoved Mbatha.

The game opened up following the break with both teams throwing bodies forward in search of the killer blow, which Patjie would find with six minutes of regulation time remaining.

The winger did what Mdantsane couldn't as he rounded Mbatha before finishing with aplomb to secure all three points for the hosts.

Baroka FC (0) 1 (Patjie 84')

AmaZulu FC (0) 0

Baroka FC: Chipezeze; Ntswane, Madigoe (Madubanya 90+3'), Sibiya, Gerbardt, Semenya, Mdantsane, Makgaka, Makume, Makgantai (Dickens 83'), Patjie.

AmaZulu: Mbatha; Gumede, Mabiliso, Van Heerden, Gumede, Morton, Ncube (Vilakazi 80'), Sithebe (Ramphela 90'), Chawapihwa, Karuru (Ntsundwana 82'), Ntuli.