Sekhukhune United hammed their Limpopo rivals, Baroka FC 4-0 at the Emirates Airline Park in the DStv Premiership encounter on Sunday night.
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The emphatic win elevated Babina Noko to sixth place on the league standings, while Bakgaga Ba Mphahlele remained 16th on the log after recording their 11th defeat of the season in the competition.
Babina Noko started the game brightly with their strikers Chibuike Ohizu and Justin Shonga looking lively. The deadlock was broken by Shonga as he turned home Yusuf Maart's cross to make it 1-0 to Sekhukhune just three minutes into the game.
Bakgaga Ba Mphahlele tried to respond with a goal, but Babina Noko's defence looked rock-solid. The hosts looked dangerous every time they pushed forward and they did double their lead in the 24th minute when Ohizu beat his marker before scoring to make it 2-0 to Sekhukhune.
Baroka pushed for the equalising goal with the halftime break approaching, with coach Kgoloko Thobejane having introduced Evidence Makgopa and Tshepo Mokhabi as the hosts looked to put pressure on the home side.
However, Sekhukhune's defence, which was marshalled by former Orlando Pirates defender-cum-midfielder Edwin Gyimah, stood firm and the hosts were leading 2-0 at the interval.
Babina Noko did not sit back and defend their two-goal lead after the restart, with the likes of Maart, Ohizu and Shonga keen to extend the hosts' lead and they managed to score their third goal after a quick counterattack.
Goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze came out and kicked the ball which rebounded off Tshediso Patjie, before hitting the upright, allowing Ohizu to score with a simple tap in eight minutes after the hour-mark to make it 3-0 to Sekhukhune.
Sekhukhune's emphatic 4-0 win over a hapless Baroka side was sealed by substitute Vusimuzi Mncube. The 28-year-old beat Chipezeze with 10 minutes left as Patjie, who had a great game, provided the assist.
Sekhukhune (2) 4 (Shonga 3', Ohizu 24', 68', Mncube 80')
Baroka (0) 0
Sekhukhune: Nsabata, Mobbie, Kabwe, Chabalala, Gyimah, Maart, Ledwaba (Leepile 73'), Madonsela (Mncube 73'), Patjie (Parusnath 90'), Shonga (Shai 84'), Ohizu (Nxumalo 84').
Baroka: Chipezeze, Mphahlele, Gebhardt, Sibiya, Mbulu, Sithole (Masiya 75'), Mgaga (Makgopa 34'), Dlala, Kambala (Bobete 75'), Farmer, Bombi (Mokhabi 34').