Castro fires Chiefs to victory

Kaizer Chiefs edged out Baroka FC 2-1 in Absa Premiership match at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Sunday afternoon.

The victory moves the Amakhosi to third place on the league standings, while Bakgaga remain seventh on the table following Leonardo Castro's late winner on debut.

The match got off to a lively start as Bakgaga and the Glamour Boys both showed signs of urgency on the ball in the final third.

The first real chance of the game fell for Baroka striker Robin Ngalande, whose left footed effort was brilliantly saved by Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune in the 10th minute.

Siphiwe Tshabalala, who remains Amakhosi's chief orchestrator, then found some space outside the Bakgaga box in the 18th minute and he forced Baroka keeper Virgil Vries into a comfortable save.

The hosts' pace caused Chiefs problems and they managed to break the deadlock on the half-hour mark following a quick move by Bakgaga.

Talent Chawapiwa hit the upright with a left-footed effort from range and Lucky Nguzana pounced on to the rebound, the forward quick off the mark to guide the ball home past Khune, 1-0 to Baroka.

Amakhosi then pushed for the equalising goal with the halftime break fast approaching, but Joseph Malongoane and George Maluleka were both denied by Vries.

The home side was able to able to contain Chiefs until the match referee blew the halftime whistle and Baroka were leading 1-0 at the interval.

It took only two minutes for Ryan Moon to level matters for Chiefs in the second-half when he scored with a header to make it 1-1 with Tshabalala providing the assist.

Baroka head coach Kgoloko Thobejane reacted by introducing Gift Motupa, who had scored against Chiefs in the first round league game, as the hosts looked to restore their lead.

However, the momentum was with the Amakhosi and coach Steve Komphela decided to hand Castro his debut in the 69th minute.

Amakhosi suffered a blow three minutes later when Joseph Molangoane was given a straight red card for elbowing Baroka defender Khutso Mohwatseleng.

Komphela's charges continued to attack with Colombian marksman Castro missing the target with a header as 10-man Chiefs piled pressure on the Bakgaga defence.

Castro, though, was not be denied in the 83rd minute as he scored with a powerful left-footed shot which beat Vries hands down to seal a 2-1 victory for the visitors.

Baroka FC (1) 1 (Nguzana 30')

Kaizer Chiefs (0) 2 (Moon 47', Castro 84')

Teams:

Baroka FC: Vries, Shaku, Matloga (Kgaswane 55'), Kgoetyane, Mohwatseleng, Banda, Mosele, Mdantsane, Chawapiwa, Ngalande (Motupa 57'), Nguzana.

Kaizer Chiefs: Khune, Cardoso, Hadebe, Mathoho, Zulu, Molangoane, Katsande, Maluleka, Tshabalala (Ntshangase 59'), Moon (Castro 69'), Páez (Zuma 63').

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