Baroka FC are now in the top eight bracket of the DSTV Premiership after a narrow 1-0 win away to relegation-threatened Chippa United in Gqeberha on Tuesday afternoon.
This was Baroka’s first win since they defeated bottom-placed neighbours, Black Leopards, in February.
Chippa are still second from the bottom with a mere 17 points after 23 matches.
The Chilli Boys are far from convincing this season, having lost 12 matches while registering just three wins.
Full-time score
Baroka1️⃣-0️⃣ Chippa united #DSTVPREMIERSHIP pic.twitter.com/JZtYejh0tm— Baroka Football Club (@Baroka_FC) April 20, 2021
This season’s Nedbank Cup finalists, Chippa, were looking for a turn of fortunes in their DSTV Premiership campaign. Chippa are still facing the danger of relegation with just a few matches to be played before the end of the season. They came into this match lying second from the bottom, with only eight matches remaining.
Bakgaga were 11th on the log after playing to three draws in a row, including a 1-1 stalemate against Kaizer Chiefs in Polokwane last Thursday.
They were forced to make an early change after captain Vusi Sibiya picked up an injury inside the first 15 minutes.
Both teams created half scoring opportunities in the opening 30 minutes. The best chance of the match fell to the visitors, but they were denied by keeper Rashid Watenga from Uganda 10 minutes before the break. But Baroka broke the deadlock through Goodman Mosele, five minutes later after a goalkeeping blunder by Watenga.
Chippa tried everything possible to find the equaliser from the beginning of the second half, but were let down by poor finishing.
Watenga was lucky to walk away with just a caution after a foul on Joslin Kamatuka 23 minutes before regulation time.
The home side kept on pressing, but another opportunity in the 73rd minute went narrowly wide. Baroka failed to increase their lead late in injury time.
Chippa’s last attempt to score came in the dying seconds of the match, but it was in vain.
