Zwane fires Sundowns to second spot

Mamelodi Sundowns secured a 2-1 win over Baroka FC in an Absa Premiership match at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Saturday.

The victory took the Brazilians to second spot on the league standings - three points behind the leaders, Orlando Pirates, while Bakgaga slipped down to 15th spot.

The Brazilians dominated the match in the opening stages of the game and they came close to scoring through Sibusiso Vilakazi.

Vilakazi combined with Lebohang Maboe and the former forced Baroka goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze into a decent save 10 minutes into the game.

The Zimbabwean shot-stopper was then called into action five minutes later by Sundowns fullback Thapelo Morena, whose effort was saved by Chipezeze.

Sundowns kept probing and they were awarded a penalty after South Africa international Vilakazi was fouled in the Baroka box.

Ricardo Nascimento then stepped up and beat Chipezeze from the spot-kick to make it 1-0 to Sundowns a few minutes before the halftime break.

The score was 1-0 to Sundowns at halftime following a first half which was dominated by the visitors.

An enthralling second half followed as Bakgaga levelled matters through Botswana international Onkabetse Makgantai.

The 23-year-old striker beat Sundowns' Zambian keeper Kennedy Mweene to make it 1-1 seven minutes after the restart.

However, parity was only restored for five minutes as the Brazilians hit back through South Africa international Themba Zwane.

Creative attacker Maboe set up Zwane, who made no mistake as he beat Chipezeze with a good finish to make it 2-1 to Sundowns.

Bakgaga then pushed for another equalising goal, but they suffered a blow as Rodwell Chinyengetere was sent off in the 76th minute after fouling Hlompho Kekana.

The Brazilians tried to take advantage of their numerical superiority over Bakgaga in the closing stages of the game, but the hosts stood firm at the back.

Ultimately, the match ended in a 2-1 victory in favour of the defending champions Sundowns, who returned to winning ways having lost to SuperSport United in midweek.

Baroka (0) 1 (Makgantai 52')

Mamelodi Sundowns (1) 2 (Nascimento 38', Zwane 57')

TEAMS:

Baroka: Chipezeze, Ntswane, Mabeba (Dickens 77'), Sibiya, Gebhardt, Mosele (Ntshumayelo 55'), Chinyengetere, Makgaka (Mdantsane 38'), Makume, Makgantai, Patjie

Mamelodi Sundowns: Mweene, Langerman, Nascimento, Lebusa, Ngcongca, Mabunda (Coetzee 71'), Kekana (Manyisa 79'), Zwane (Lakay 90'+3), Vilakazi, Maboe, Morena