Baroka FC      (0) 0

Kaizer Chiefs (0) 1

Billiat 90+4

They left it very, very late, but Amakhosi managed to burgle a winner in the final minute of the game to leave Limpopo with maximum points after a last-gasp Khama Billiat strike broke Baroka’s hearts at the death.

The win was no less than what Chiefs deserved after they were dominant throughout, but the home side so nearly escaped with a point.

Just a minute of five minutes of referees’ addional time was left to play when second half substitutes Sabelo Radebe and Leonardo Castro launched one final attack as they played a one-two which ended with Radebe swinging in a dangerous ball into the Baroka penalty area from the right, the ball causing the home side’s defence all sorts of problems before falling to an alert Khama Billiat at the back post, who stabbed home the winner from close range.

The goal sparked delirious scenes from the Chiefs players and bench, with the late win moving Amakhosi up to second spot on the DStv Premiership standings, while leaving Baroka rooted to the bottom of the table.

Chiefs got off to their customary quick start, Erick Mathoho glancing a corner wide in just the game’s first minute and Keagan Dolly forcing a save from Baroka keeper Oscarine Masuluke in just the third minute with a rasping shot.

That quick start would set the tone for the match, as Amakhosi’s attacking trio of Dolly, Billiat and Samir Nurković a constant threat, while Kearyn Baccus impressed in a rare start this season and Njabulo Blom marauding at will down the right flank.

Chiefs dominated possession, ending the match having had 61% of the ball and 15 shots on goal, eight of them on target to illustrate their dominance.

Shots from range from Dolly and also from Phathutshedzo Nange caused Masuluke problems.

With nearly half hour gone, teenager Ntiyiso Bombi had a half-chance snap shot at goal for what would have been his first Baroka goal, but he skied it well over Brandon Petersen’s crossbar.

The lights went out at the Peter Mokaba Stadium due to a power failure in the 37^th minute which left the ground briefly in darkness.

Bombi was brightest after the brief break to surge into the Chiefs box in the 40^th minute, but he tamely side footed his shot straight at Petersen.

The sides went into the half time break goalless, but with Amakhosi clearly in the ascendancy.

Dolly’s long range shots and free kicks were again a threat to Baroka’s goal in the second half, but frustratingly Chiefs could not make their dominance count.

Instead, it was Baroka who nearly took the lead as Evidence Makgopa’s diving header from a Sekela Sithole free kick thudded against Petersen’s upright and out to safety as Baroka caused a bit of panic in the Chiefs goalmouth.

With nearly 70 minutes to go Castro replaced an increasingly frustrated Nurković, just after the Serbian striker had picked up a booking.

With less than 10 minutes to go coach Stuart Baxter threw on attackers Lebogang Manyama and Sabelo Radebe in the search for a winner in what would prove to be pivotal changes.

With Baroka looking as if they would hold on for a hard-fought draw to frustrate Chiefs, a bit of brightness and positivity from ‘Bibo’ finally unlocked the Baroka defence deep into injury time.

Radebe’s intended pass may have been meant for his fellow substitute Castro, but when it evaded everyone in the box, Billiat did brilliantly to stay switched on to rifle his finish into the roof of the net at the back post to make the 400 kilometre trip back to Johannesburg that much more enjoyable for Chiefs.

Teams:

Chiefs:  Petersen, Mathoho ©, Frosler, Cardoso, Dube (Manyama 81’), Blom, Nange, Baccus (Radebe 81’), Dolly (Sekgota 90’), Billiat, Nurković (Castro 69’)

Subs not used:  Bvuma, Mphahlele, Ngezana, Nj Ngcobo, Nk Ngcobo

Baroka: Masuluke;  Mphahlele, Farmer ©, Shozi, Ngubane, Kambala, Bobete (29), Bombi (Masiya 54’), Dlala (Mbulu 62’), Sithole,  Makgopa

Subs not used: Chipezeze; Gebhardt, Goldstone, Chauke, Masiya, Ndlhovu, Monama