Baroka FC and Cape Town City played to a thrilling 2-2 draw on the opening day of the 2019/2020 Absa Premiership season on Saturday afternoon.

Gerald Phiri Junior made his debut for Baroka alongside Tshediso Patjie, with Abbubaker Mobara and Mpho Makola debuting for the Citizens.

The visitors were under intense pressure on seven minutes, with Peter Leeuwenburgh denying Patjie in a one-on-one situation. Then, from the edge of the area Mduduzi Mdantsane was denied by the woodwork after bursting through to the area on 20 minutes.

Baroka’s bright opening fell flat after Keanu Cupido put City in front in the 22nd minute with a header from Bradley Ralani’s cross. On the half-hour mark, Kermit Erasmus drilled home the second after finding space from outside the penalty area.

Bakgaga reduced the tally three minutes later after Mdantsane pounced on poor defending to finish from inside the area. In the final four minutes to halftime, Patjie slashed home the leveller after a well-placed delivery from Richard Mbulu.

Within seven minutes from the interval, City were on the edge with Leeuwenburgh forced off the line to deny Phiri.

City’s first substitution saw Ralani removed for Craig Martin in the 62nd minute, with City in the absence of coach Benni McCarthy looking to balance matters.

Baroka’s attacking approach in the second half put the travelling side on the back-foot in the final minutes, but failed to breakthrough.

Erasmus fired wide in the final three minutes after going one-on-one with Baroka goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze, thus failing to bag the winner as the match ended honours even.

Teams:

Baroka: Chipezeze, Kgoetyane, Mongae, Sibiya, Shozi, Mosele, Mdantsane, Selemela, Mbulu, Phiri, Patjie.

Subs: Dlamini, Madigoe, Ntswane, Nsimba, Dickens, Ngubane, Tisdell.

City: Leewenburgh, Mkhize, Mobara, Cupido, Edmilson, Mokeke, Makola, David, Ralani, Erasmus, Links.

Subs: Stephens, Seedat, Kewuti, Nodada, Morris, Martin, Mthembu.

Kick off