Mamelodi Sundowns beat Baroka FC 2-1 in an Absa Premiership match at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday.

As a result, the Brazilians moved up to second spot on the league standings, while Bakgaga slipped down to 15th place which is the relegation play-off spot.

The Brazilians dominated the match in the opening stages of the game and they came close to scoring through Sibusiso Vilakazi.

Vilakazi combined with Lebohang Maboe and the former forced Baroka goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze into a decent save 10 minutes into the game.

The Zimbabwean shot-stopper was then called into action five minutes later by Sundowns full-back Thapelo Morena, whose effort was saved by Chipezeze.

Sundowns kept probing and they were awarded a penalty after South Africa international Vilakazi was fouled in the Baroka box.

Ricardo Nascimento then stepped up and beat Chipezeze from the spot-kick to make it 1-0 to Sundowns a few minutes before the half-time break.

The score was 1-0 to Sundowns at half-time following a first-half which was dominated by the visitors. 

An enthralling second-half followed as Bakgaga levelled matters through Botswana international Onkabetse Makgantai.

The 23-year-old striker beat Sundowns’ Zambian keeper Kennedy Mweene to make it 1-1 seven minutes after the restart.

However, parity was only restored for five minutesas the Brazilians hit back through South Africa international Themba Zwane.

Creative attacker Maboe set-up Zwane, who made no mistake as he beat Chipezeze with a good finish to make it 2-1 to Sundowns. 

Bakgaga then pushed for another equalizing goal, but they suffered a blow as Rodwell Chinyengetere was sent off in the 76th minute after fouling Hlompho Kekana.

The Brazilians tried to take advantage of their numerical superiority over Bakgaga in the closing stages of the game, but the hosts stood firm at the back.

Ultimately, the match ended in a 2-1 victory in favour of the defending champions Sundowns, who returned to winning ways having lost to SuperSport United in midweek.

Baroka (0) 1 (Makgantai 52′)
Sundowns (1) 2 (Nascimento 38′, Zwane 57′)

Baroka: Chipezeze, Ntswane, Mabeba (Dickens 77′), Sibiya, Gebhardt, Mosele (Ntshumayelo 55′), Chinyengetere, Makgaka (Mdantsane 38′), Makume, Makgantai, Patjie 

Sundowns: Mweene, Langerman, Nascimento, Lebusa, Ngcongca, Mabunda (Coetzee 71′), Kekana (Manyisa 79′), Zwane (Lakay 90’+3), Vilakazi, Maboe, Morena