Baroka FC gains Nedbank Cup quarters finals spot

Limpopo Vodacom outfit, Baroka FC, booked themselves a place in the last eight of the Nedbank Cup with a hard fought 2-1 victory over struggling PSL side Moroka Swallows on Sunday afternoon.

In a well engineered victory, Baroka FC played with passion, confidently controlling the game and ran off the well deserved winners.

Second half goals from Katlego Mashego and Mashilo Moremi were enough to seal the game for the Sello Chokoe’s coached side while Swallows’ goal came from the boot of Augustine Leonard.

Baroka FC, who played their hearts out from the start to finish, deserved to win. The Vodacom outfit went into this game with a clear intention of proceeding to the next round but poor finishing from the players let them down with the main culprits being Thobani Mncwango and Msimeli Baloyi.

Nedbank Cup

The home team had Swallows at sixes and sevens, displaying soccer wizardry and much to the delight of their ardent fans.

At this stage of the game, there seemed no chance the Gordon Ingesund coached side would be able to overcome their opponents. Swallows looked tired and did not only fail to create scoring chances but also failed to trouble the home side’s keeper, Avhashoni Tshinuna.

Baroka FC gave Swallows a tough time. After losing possession, the Sello Chokoe’s coached side were quick behind the ball and it was difficult for Swallows to penetrate them.

Despite Swallows enjoying much ball possession, in the first half Baroka FC had the PSL outfit chasing their shadows but could not manage to put the ball in the back of the net, as they fluffed their chances.

The Vodacom League outfit were impressive on their forward forays with Khunadi Nkoana orchestrating the operations as Baroka FC swamped the Swallows’ territory in search of a goal, but Ramahlwe Mphahlele and company stood firm and keeper Aubrey Mathibe could only watch the proceedings as the home side were buzzing around in a vaguely threatening manner.

The half time score was 0-0.

Baroka FC came back strongly in the second half, and their efforts were finally rewarded when Katlego Mashego beat an offside trap before beating Aubrey Mathibe in Swallows’ goal to give his side the much awaited lead in the 47th minute.

After the goal, Swallows did not rest on their laurels and wait for a miracle to happen. The Birds pushed forward in search of an equalizer and they were finally rewarded when Augostin Leonard pounced on the ball with so much power, beating keeper Avhashoni Tshinuna hands down.

However, their joy was short-lived when substitute Mashilo Moremi followed up on a rebound to score his side’s second goal in the 79th minute and much to the delight of their bench, and their ardent fans who came in numbers to witness the proceedings.

Gordon Ingesund might have thought his charges could come back into it and maybe force the game into extra time, but Baroka FC did not let their grip on the game slip. They soldiered on until the last whistle.