Neil Boshoff of Amazulu FC in action during the 2019 PSL season. Photo: Anesh Debiky/Gallo Images
Baroka vs AmaZulu: Prediction, scores, kick-off time and head-to-head
Baroka host AmaZulu at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Sunday. Here’s what you need to know about a potentially crucial game for both sides.
Neil Boshoff of Amazulu FC in action during the 2019 PSL season. Photo: Anesh Debiky/Gallo Images
It is too early to use the term “relegation six-pointer”, but both Baroka and AmaZulu find themselves fighting for security in the Premier Division. They could each go a long way towards peace of mind come Sunday’s encounter in Limpopo.
Bakgaga started the season well with a draw against Cape Town City and a win over Bidvest Wits. However, they have battled in recent weeks. A Telkom Knockout penalty shootout defeat to SuperSport United was Wedson Nyirenda’s latest setback.
Baroka can be proud of their efforts on the road regardless, but their biggest problems of late have come on home soil.
“This is my second season and this thing is creeping up again and it is so worrying because I believe in football…. you must be a fast learner‚” Nyirenda told TimesLIVE of their struggles at home.
“If you see something wrong‚ you must look to fix the problem but this is something we don’t seem able to solve.”
AmaZulu beat Cape Town City 2-1 in the league to claim their first win of the season, but they were humbled 5-0 by Mamelodi Sundowns in the Telkom Knockout.
“The first half was like we expected, pressure from Sundowns but we were okay with 0-0 at 45 minutes, that first goal was unnecessary,” Usuthu boss Jozef Vukušič told SuperSport.
“Then we gave two next presents to them because the second goal was very soft and the third one as well, so against that quality you have no chance.
“But after that we played an open game, that mentality was there from the players that, ‘now is over’ so we were open. If you play Sundowns that kind of game is exactly what they need, so they played, they took it, nice combinations, they score the next goal.”
Head-to-head record
These statistics are based on Premier Division and First Division encounters dating back to the 2015-16 season.
| Records | Baroka | AmaZulu |
| Wins | 4 | 1 |
| Draws | 1 | 1 |
| Losses | 1 | 4 |
| Goals for | 7 | 2 |
| Goals against | 2 | 7 |
| Points | 13 | 4 |
Kick-off time and prediction
Kick off time: 15:30 SAST on Sunday 27 October
Prediction: Despite the scoreline against Sundowns, AmaZulu have shown at times this season that they can be a very solid outfit.
Baroka, meanwhile, have failed to score in their last two games. Home advantage is not much of an advantage given Bakgaga’s struggles, but Usuthu have by and large struggled to pick up wins. A 0-0 stalemate is the predicted outcome.
