Baroka host Supersport United at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Wednesday with both teams looking to build on their solid starts in the Absa Premiership.

Baroka host Supersport United at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Wednesday with both teams looking to build on their solid starts in the Absa Premiership.
 
Baroka currently find themselves in a very respectable seventh place on the table after two draws against Cape Town City and Bloemfontein Celtic and an impressive 1-0 victory over Bidvest Wits. Supersport, meanwhile, have had the unenviable task of facing Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs in the first three matches of the season, and have done well to emerge with a win, a loss and a draw to lie ninth. It could have been even better for Matsatsantsa, who were unlucky not to collect all three points against Chiefs on the weekend, with only Nigerian goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi's last-minute intervention helping to secure a point for Amakhosi after they gave away a late penalty.
 
Speaking after the match, Supersport coach Kaitano Tembo said he did not blame Bradley Grobler for failing to convert from the spot at the death. 
“It happens," said Tembo. "Even the best players all over the world miss penalties. Pogba missed a penalty this week. So for me, I look at the overall performance. I think he had a very good game."
Tembo also hailed the impact of new arrival Thamsanqa Gabuza, who joined them from Pirates in the off-season.
“We had a poor first-half. We were second to everything. They were a bit more adventurous than us while we were a bit slow to get out of the blocks. But second half, we were better. We created enough chances like them. I think we could have stolen it at the death.
“When we brought on Gabuza he gave them problems, because Bradley could play off him. Whereas in the first half Bradley was a bit isolated.”
As for Baroka, they would have been disappointed at failing to see off 10-men Celtic in their last match, as they were forced to settle for a 0-0 draw.
“I think in the second half, we started playing a little bit when we were one man up. We tried to push. When Collins Makgaka came in, he gave us some good touches - we attacked, but it was not coming,” said Baroka coach Wedson Nyirenda.
Looking at the head-to-head stats between the two teams, Bakgakga surprisingly have the better record, having claimed three wins, two draws and two losses from their seven previous meetings.
The odds certainly favour Supersport on this occasion, however, as their form against the big three in the Absa Premiership suggest they will be a tough nut to crack come Wednesday evening.